WASHINGTON (CN) — A federal judge approved the unconditional release of John Hinckley Jr., the man who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981 in an attempt to impress the actress Jodie Foster, with whom he had an obsessive fixation.
"His psychotic disorder has been in full and sustained remission for three decades or more," U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman said at Monday’s hearing, which wrapped up a 40-year legal battle for Hinckley, who is now 66 years old and living in an apartment in Williamsburg, Virginia.
On March 30, 1981, a 25-year-old Hinckley had been in a crowd outside the Washington Hilton Hotel when he opened fire, shooting the 40th U.S. president in the chest, just barely missing his heart. The spray of bullets paralyzed Reagan's press secretary James Brady, who died in 2014, and also injured Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy and Washington police officer Thomas Delahanty. Reagan was only months into his first term at the time of survived the shooting. He went on to serve two and died in 2004, age 93, of complications from Alzheimer's disease.
Hinckley, meanwhile, was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 1982 and committed to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington where he became one of the most studied individuals in its history. Through the sustained and committed effort of doctors, psychologists, social workers and therapists, Hinckley received world class mental health treatment for his slew of mental illnesses.
“Getting well is no easy task, because when one gets well they come face to face with the horrors of what they did,” said Barry Levine, who has represented Hinckley for 30 years. “I hope that people will see this as a victory for mental health. That is the message: that those ravaged by mental health, with actual treatment, can become productive members of society.”
Judge Friedman began gradually allowing Hinckley to go on unsupervised visits with his parents away from the hospital in the early 2000s.
“The most difficult decision was the first one … I knew that if I opened that door just a crack, this day would come,” Friedman said during Monday’s hearing. “But I followed the law, I followed the evidence, and I followed the science from day one to today.”
In 2016, after more than 80 excursions with few incidents, Hinckley was released from the hospital and allowed to live full time in Williamsburg with his mother, whom he cared for until her death several months ago. Friedman continued to gradually lessen Hinckley’s conditions over the past five years while still imposing restrictions on his movements, internet activities, doctor’s visits, medication, therapy and more.
In August of 2020, the Department of Behavioral Health at St. Elizabeth’s recommended immediate unconditional release and the elimination of all conditions, as he posed a “very low risk for future violence.” The Justice Department opposed the recommendation, but took a different position after the hospital made the same recommendation in May of this year.
“As this is likely to be the last hearing we have in this case, I would ask for the court’s indulgence to make a comment that I think is appropriate,” Levine said to the court on Monday. “Mr. Hinckley wants to express his apologies — his apologies are heartfelt and full of profound regret.”
Levine, on behalf of Hinckley, expressed apologies to Reagan’s family, the families of those he wounded, Jodie Foster and the American people.
“Perhaps it is too much to ask for forgiveness, but he hopes that they have understanding,” Levine said. “He was ravaged by mental illness at that time.”
Hinckley’s unconditional release won’t begin until June 2022, as Justice Department prosecutor Kacie Weston said that they want to monitor Hinckley as he goes through two big changes: living alone for the first time in 40 years and his doctor's retiring in January 2022, which will mark the end of his group therapy.
"The ball is completely in Mr. Hinckley's hands," Weston told Friedman.
Since the members of Hinckley's therapy group are a large part of his social network, Hinckley’s doctor has recommended that he return to his work at a booth at an Antique mall — which he did before the pandemic — to avoid isolation. Hinckley agreed, and will work at the booth in addition to working on his art and music.
“John is optimistic about his future,” Levine said. “He loves music, he writes and sings songs, and he would like to be able to share them with others.”
Levine also noted that Hinckley could find another therapy group in Newport News, just 13 miles away.
Friedman will issue his ruling on the plan this week, noting that it was probably overdue, but he was happy with his cautious approach.
“We probably wouldn’t have reached this point, obviously, without Mr. Hinckley's conduct over many years,” Friedman said. “He will be doing his art, his music, interacting with people… All will be right in this little piece of the world.”
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