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| O'Connor v. Kenneth Donaldson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Argued January 15, 1975 Decided June 26, 1975 | |
| Full case name | Dr. J. B. O'Connor v. Kenneth Donaldson |
| Citations | 422 U.S. 563 (more) |
| Case history | |
| Prior | Cert. to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit |
| Holding | |
| A State cannot constitutionally confine a non-dangerous individual who is capable of surviving safely in freedom by themselves or with the help of willing and responsible family members or friends. | |
| Court membership | |
| |
| Case opinions | |
| Majority | Stewart, joined by unanimous |
| Concurrence | Burger |
O'Connor v. Donaldson, 422 U.S. 563 (1975), was a landmark decision of the US Supreme Court in mental health law ruling that a state cannot constitutionally confine a non-dangerous individual who is capable of surviving safely in freedom by themselves or with the help of willing and responsible family members or friends. Since the trial court jury found, upon ample evidence, that petitioner did so confine respondent, the Supreme Court upheld the trial court's conclusion that petitioner had violated respondent's right to liberty.[1][2][3] The case was important in the deinstitutionalization movement in the United States.[4]
- ^ "O'Connor v. Donaldson". FindLaw.
- ^ "O'Connor v. Donaldson, 422 U.S. 563 (1975)". Treatment Advocacy Center. Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved October 2, 2007.
- ^ "Legal standard/requirements for assisted treatment, by state". Treatment Advocacy Center. Archived from the original on October 9, 2007. Retrieved October 2, 2007.
- ^ Hirshbein, Laura (2022). "O'Connor v Donaldson (1975): Legal Challenges, Psychiatric Authority, and the Dangerousness Problem in Deinstitutionalization". American Journal of Legal History. 62 (4): 349–373. doi:10.1093/ajlh/njad002. ISSN 0002-9319.