William McNaughton

William McNaughton is best known for the McNaughton Rule, a legal standard for determining criminal insanity. Established in the 19th century, it asserts that individuals cannot be held criminally responsible if, at the time of their crime, they did not understand the nature of their actions or could not distinguish right from wrong due to mental illness. This rule has influenced how courts assess the mental competence of defendants and shapes discussions around accountability and mental health in the justice system.