In 1995, New Mexico state senator Duncan Scott was aggravated by the number of psychologists and psychiatrists being used as expert witnesses in legal trials. In protest, Scott tacked an amendment onto a bill. The amendment passed unanimously in the senate, but was ultimately dropped before the house vote. What did the amendment say, you ask?
“When a psychologist or psychiatrist testifies during a defendant’s competency hearing, the psychologist or psychiatrist shall wear a cone shaped hat that is not less than two feet tall. The surface of the hat shall be imprinted with stars and lightning bolts. Additionally, a psychologist or psychiatrist shall be required to don a white beard that is not less than 18 inches in length, and shall punctuate crucial elements of his testimony by stabbing the air with a wand. Whenever a psychologist or psychiatrist provides expert testimony regarding a defendant’s competency, the bailiff shall contemporaneously dim the courtroom lights and administer two strikes to a Chinese gong.”
Friends, neighbors, and those that are not friends or neighbors, I proposed this very amendment be rewritten to apply to all members of the house, senate, presidency and the supreme court and presented to the people to vote on it as the 28th amendment to the Constitution.
My guess is it would pass unanimously.
PMO
©2015
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