W. Lawrence Fitch Comments: the Atkins case in judicial proceedings: competent yet scant guidelines for the legislators.

Abstract: This article by W. Lawrence Fitch contains critical analysis of the above-mentioned practical guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association on mental retardation and capital punishment due to application of the decision of the Supreme Court of the USA in the case of Atkins v. Virginia. As Professor Fitch notes, while the practical guidelines are timely and well-formulated, they are, perhaps, too narrow, which may bear a negative influence on the American judicial practice.