Supreme Court Sides With Criminal Defendant in Forced Medication Case

Munson P. Hunter III objected to a sentence requiring him to take psychiatric medication.

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan stands during a group photograph of the justices at the Supreme Court in Washington, on April 23, 2021. Erin Schaff/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 18 that a Texas man may challenge a compulsory medication order in his sentence even though he waived his right to appeal in a plea agreement with prosecutors.

The new ruling gives criminal defendants who have signed appeal waivers during the plea bargaining process a limited opening to challenge sentencing conditions they believe are unconstitutional or outrageous.