United States v. Gale Watson, United States of America v. Jackson Holmes

HEANEY, Senior Circuit Judge.

Two federal prisoners, Jackson Rip Holmes and Gale Watson,1 ask this Court to decide whether they have a constitutional right to refuse the administration of psychotropic medications. We hold that federal prisoners suffering from a mental disease or defect have a qualified right to refuse such treatment. We reverse the district court’s order allowing the government to forcibly medicate Holmes and remand the case to the district court to determine whether Holmes can function adequately in the prison without medication. We affirm the district court’s order with…