The expert wizard amendment was a proposed amendment by New Mexico state senator Duncan Scott, which would require psychologists and psychiatrists to dress up as wizards when they were in court proceedings providing expert testimony regarding a defendant's competency.[1] The amendment, proposed in 1995, passed New Mexico's Senate unanimously.[2] Scott revealed the amendment was satirical prior to a vote in New Mexico House of Representatives following which it was removed and thus never signed into law.
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Scott said that he crafted the amendment because he felt that there were an excessive number of mental health practitioners acting as expert witnesses.[2]
Text of the amendment
editThe full text of the amendment was,
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.[3]
References
edit- ^ Lamar, Cyriaque. "In 1995, New Mexico voted on a bill requiring psychologists to dress as wizards". Gizmodo. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
- ^ a b "Odd Law Alert: New Mexico Expert Wizard Amendment". University of Cincinnati Law Review. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
- ^ Oswald, Mark (March 6, 1995). "Capitol Chronicle". The New Mexican. p. 7.