Powell v. Texas

392 U.S. 514 (1968)

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Nature of the Case

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Facts

Powell (D) was a chronic alcoholic. D was arrested and charged with being drunk in a public place. At trial, D claimed that he was unable to control his drinking and his appearance in public while intoxicated was the symptom of the disease of alcoholism. D claimed his acts were involuntary as he could not control himself. This evidence was presented by Dr. David Wade who concluded that D had a disease and had no willpower to resist excessive consumption of alcohol. Dr. Wade admitted that D knew the difference between right and wrong while D was sober and that D’s taking of a first drink while sober was a voluntary exercise of will. Dr. Wade also opined that D has a compulsion to drink which is exceedingly strong. D also admitted that he had one drink in the morning before trial and had been able to discontinue. P made a brief argument that D was legally sane, and knew the difference between right and wrong. The trial court found that chronic alcoholism was a disease which destroyed the will to resist drinking but that a chronic alcoholic does not appear in public by his own volition but under compulsion of the disease, and that D is a chronic alcoholic. D was found guilty and fined $20; chronic alcoholism was not a defense to the crime charged. D appealed and was fined $50. D appealed. Note: In 1962, the Supreme Court held in Robinson v. State of California that a person may not be punished for the crime of being addicted to the use of narcotics; a state law which imprisons a person thus afflicted inflicts a cruel and unusual punishment. D contends that it would be cruel and unusual punishment to convict him for being a chronic alcoholic.