Prior to beginning work on this discussion, read the article, “Sentencing Advocates Enhance Reasoned Court Decisions,” then read the list of infamous murderers whose high profile crimes dominated headlines for many years in the United States. Click the link “Killer Bios” for a list of these infamous murderers. Choose one of these individuals to become your client for this discussion post.

Imagine that you have been retained by the client’s defense attorney as a death penalty mitigation expert. Your role in this capacity is to work as a sentencing advocate on behalf of your client (the defendant). For the purpose of this discussion, we are proceeding as if the client is still alive and has not yet been sentenced (though all of these cases have already been resolved). In your discussion post of 300 words, please examine the following and address the questions below:

• Tell us which client you chose and why. That is, what was it about the case that interested you?
• Based upon your preliminary research on this case/client, what mental disorders might your client be suffering from that may have contributed to the crime?
• Describe the disorder including its signs and symptoms. Connect those that you believe apply to your client’s behavior.
• What does your research say about the likelihood that your client’s mental states contributed to the crime?
• Discuss whether psychopathy, insanity, or competence to stand trial are potential issues in your client’s case based upon your preliminary research of the case.
• Support your claims with examples from the required materials, other scholarly and/or credible sources, and properly cite any references.

**Plagiarism will not be accepted.**