M'Naughten Rule Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term M'Naughten Rule.

M'Naughten Rule (noun)

The M'Naughten Rule is a legal principle applied to determine the mental stability of a person in a criminal case. It's a test of legal sanity that assesses if the accused has the ability to tell right from wrong and understand the nature of their actions at the time of committing a crime. If they cannot due to mental illness, they may be considered not guilty by reason of insanity.