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Landmark Case
Case Name: Frank O'Neal ADDINGTON v. State of TEXAS
Date, Location, Cite: 1979 TX
441 US 418, 99 S.Ct... 1804
US SUPREME COURT
Pt. committed under "clear & convincing" (& unequivocal)
standard. Appealed to require "beyond a reasonable doubt" Supreme Court.
said that "preponderance of evidence (PoE)" (51%) is too weak, "Beyond
Reasonable Doubt"(99.9%) too strict, "Clear & Convincing" (~75%) best.
Also struck the word "unequivocal" as too strict. This was a UNANIMOUS
dec. Eleven states have laws that require "Beyond Reasonable Doubt". They
are still valid; this case sets minimum. What would happen if a case were
appealed from one of those 11? "Civil Commitment for any purpose ...requires
due process protection." see also Vitek
v. Jonesand Cooper
v. Oklahoma (criminal)