Further mental tests ordered for Hinckley

April 3, 1981

A federal judge ordered further mental tests for John W. Hinckley Jr., shortly after the young man accused of trying to kill President Reagan waived a preliminary hearing on the charge. The judge issued the order after a court-appointed psychiatrist who interviewed Mr. hinckley said in a report that the suspect was mentally competent to stand trial. Hinckley, appeared at two hearings in the federal courthouse amid extraordinary security measures.

After a morning of legal jousting, US Distric Judge Willim Bryant delayed for 24 hours an order by US Magistrate Lawrence Margolis for Hinckley to undergo a psychiatric evaluation at an undisclosed institution. Judge Bryant said he would issue an order giving defense and government psychiatrists equal access to the accus ed.