People v. Lang

This is yet another case affecting the deaf-mute, Donald Lang (defendant), who until quite recently was never trained to communicate in any recognized language system. (See People v. Lang (1967), 37 Ill. 2d 75, 224 N.E.2d 838; People ex rel. Myers v. Briggs (1970), 46 Ill. 2d 281, 263 N.E.2d 109; People v. Lang (1st Dist. 1975), 26 Ill. App. 3d 648, 325 N.E.2d 305, cert. denied (1976), 423 U.S. 1070, 47 L. Ed. 2d 80, 96 S. Ct. 851.) In appeal No. 77-1541, Robert A. deVito, M.D., Director of the Illinois Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (Director), appeals from the…