Story perspectives

Judge Re- instructs Jurors, Declares Mistrial in Clancy Case

9/4/2026

Summary

Story summary

Judge William Sullivan re-instructed jurors on reasonable doubt before declaring a mistrial after a deadlocked jury.
The 12-person jury deliberated six days without reaching unanimity.
Defense lawyer Kevin Reddington sought removal of a juror who ignored reasonable-doubt instructions.
Clancy admits the killings and attributes them to postpartum psychosis.
Prosecutors say a new trial could bring life imprisonment or psychiatric commitment for the Jan. 24, 2023 murders she planned.

History

Historical Context

John Hinckley Jr. attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1981; his federal trial concluded on June 21, 1982 with a not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity verdict. The case came as the insanity defense had been used in under 2 % of felony trials and failed in about 75 % of them, prompting Congress to pass the Insanity Defense Reform Act of 1984 and many states to tighten the test.

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Story summary

Judge William Sullivan re-instructed jurors on reasonable doubt before declaring a mistrial after a deadlocked jury.
The 12-person jury deliberated six days without reaching unanimity.
Defense lawyer Kevin Reddington sought removal of a juror who ignored reasonable-doubt instructions.
Clancy admits the killings and attributes them to postpartum psychosis.
Prosecutors say a new trial could bring life imprisonment or psychiatric commitment for the Jan. 24, 2023 murders she planned.

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