| State v. Strasburg | |
| Court: | Washington Supreme Court |
| Full Name: | The State of Washington v. Martin Strasburg |
| Citations: | 110 P. 1020, 60 Wash. 106, 1910 Wash. LEXIS 1016 |
| Number Of Judges: | 9 |
| Majority: | Parker |
| Joinmajority: | Crow and Mount |
| Concurring: | Rudkin |
| Joinconcurrence: | Gose and Chadwick; Dunbar joined in part |
| Dissenting: | Fullerton |
| Concur/Dissent: | Morris |
| Appealed From: | Superior Court of King County |
State v. Strasburg, 110 P. 1020 (Wash. 1910), was a case decided by the Washington Supreme Court that held that a statute eliminating the insanity defense was unconstitutional. The court likened the exclusion of evidence of insanity to a denial of trial by jury.[1]
Martin Strasburg, described as "an unknown and penniless stranger", was convicted of assault after shooting Otto Peeck in a saloon in Seattle. Lawyers saw the Strasburg case as an opportunity to have the Washington law that forbade insanity defenses declared unconstitutional.[2] The effect of the Supreme Court declaring the law unconstitutional was said to be expected to reverse the convictions of "scores" of people.[3]