Judge will allow John Hinckley Jr. to display artwork
A federal judge ruled Wednesday that John Hinckley Jr., the man who attempted to assassinate former President Ronald Reagan, can publicly display his artwork.
U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman ruled that Hinckley, who has previously displayed artwork and released writings and music anonymously, can put his name on his works as part of his ongoing therapy.
Hinckley, who shot and wounded Reagan in March 1981, will be required to discuss feedback he receives with his doctors.
“If clinically indicated, they may terminate Mr. Hinckley’s ability to publicly display his creative works,” Friedman wrote.
Hinckley, who was 25 at the time of the shooting, was suffering from acute psychosis and believed the shooting would impress actress Jodie Foster.
He was found not guilty by reason of insanity and then spent decades at a psychiatric hospital before he started transitioning to living with his mother in Virginia where he moved permanently in 2016.
The artwork agreement was reached with Hinckley’s lawyers and federal prosecutors as part of a reassessment of Hinckley’s mental state. His lawyers have argued he no longer poses a danger to others and should receive an unconditional release.
However, Hinckley still faces several restrictions, including not being allowed to contact Foster or members of the Reagan family or members of the family of James Brady, a then White House aide who was paralyzed in the shooting.
According to his lawyers, Hinckley hopes being allowed to show the world his art will change the public perception of him.
“I don’t have a microphone in my hand. I don’t have the video camera. So no one can hear my music. No one can see my art. I have these other aspects of my life that no one knows about. I’m an artist. I’m a musician. Nobody knows that. They just see me as the guy who tried to kill Reagan,” Hinckley told one of his doctors in 2011.
With News Wire Services
