Subject: Truth in Advertising for Psychobabble Testimony

From the 1/26/96 editorial page of the Manchester Union Leader,
with credits to the Western Journalism Center:

        In the New Mexico Legislature's 1995 session, Sen. 
        Duncan Scott, a Republican from Albuquerque, proposed an amendment
        to a psychologist regulatory bill offered by another senator.
        The Scott amendment would have dramatically changed the face
        of New Mexico's legal system:

        The amendment said: ``When a psychologist or psychiatrist testifies
        during a defendant's competentcy 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 
        competentcy, the baliff shall contemporaneously dim the 
        courtroom lights and administer two strikes to a Chinese gong.''

        The bill, with the wizard amendment, passed the Senate by
        voice vote and cleared the House 46-14.  Unfortunately,
        Gov. Gary Johnson vetoed the legislation.