A federal judge gave a shocking ruling in which he allowed the man who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan to have artwork, music and writings displayed.
Attempted Assassin Dabbles in the Arts
While best known for his assassination attempt, John Hinckley is also a musician and artist. As part of his therapy, he plays the guitar and paints.
He has anonymously been displaying his artwork, but now an order from U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman has no granted Hinckley the ability to use his own name.
In 1981, President Reagan was shot and wounded. As part of the order given by the judge, Hinckley must inform his treatment team of his goals of displaying his work. His doctors are then supposed to help him process any feedback given while documenting the discussions.
“If clinically indicated, they may terminate Mr. Hinckley’s ability to publicly display his creative works,” Friedman wrote.
Shooter Lives in Infamy
At the age of 25, Hinckley shot Reagan in March 1981. Press secretary James Brady was also hit and ended up paralyzed while two others were also injured.
This was not the only highly disturbing incident the man was involved in. He was diagnosed with acute psychosis and had a strong obsession with Jodie Foster.
NBC reported:
“When jurors found him not guilty by reason of insanity, they said he needed treatment, not a lifetime in confinement. He spent decades living at a psychiatric hospital before gradually spending more and more time with his mother in Williamsburg, Virginia. He moved in with her permanently in 2016.”
Judge Gives Surprising Order
The order given by the judge on Wednesday was done after a new risk assessment was done on Hinckley’s mental health. His lawyer and federal prosecutors were all in agreement with the order.
Hinckley’s lawyer, Barry Levine said that doctors have found that Hinckley “has sufficiently recovered his sanity and will not, in the reasonable future, be a danger to himself or others.”
“A lot of people think he has a lot of talents,” Levine said. “And now for the first time, his talent will be shown under his own name. And we’ll see what it will fetch.”