Death & Dying Cases Before the Minnesota Supreme Court - Part II

On Monday, May 13, the Minnesota Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in State v. Melchert-Dinkel. 



The issue is whether Minnesota Statutes section 609.215, subdivision 1, which criminalizes advising, encouraging, or assisting another to commit suicide, is unconstitutionally overbroad under the First Amendment.  



In July 2012, the Court of Appeals held that the First Amendment does not bar the state from prosecuting a person for advising, encouraging, or assisting another to commit suicide by sending coercive messages to suicide-contemplating Internet users instructing them how to kill themselves and coaxing them to do so.