James Holmes’ plea in the Aurora massacre is due today—and if he pleads insanity at the time of the shooting, he could be administered medication to confirm he’s telling the truth. In a so-called “narcoanalytic interview,” the defendant could receive inhibition-lowering drugs; these may include sodium amytal and pentothal, or what is sometimes known as “truth serum,” reports the AP. The judge in Holmes’ case, William Sylvester, has approved the use of “medically appropriate” drugs in such an interview, as well as the potential use of a polygraph test. But Holmes’ lawyers say both the narcoanalytic interview and polygraph test would violate Holmes’ rights. Colorado law allows narcoanalytic interviews, an expert says. But she said it was unfamiliar to her: “It comes up so rarely.”
