Does The Fact That My Brother Has Autism Be Relevant In Court?

[Cindy1302]

My brother has been charged with two misdemeanors. First offense. He has a lawyer, and our mom mentioned to the lawyer that my brother has autism so my brothers doctor wrote a letter, and he sent it to his lawyer, so he could show it to the court. My brother could be facing up to a year in jail. He does have trouble communicating, and reading non verbal signals. Other than that, you wouldn't really guess he's autistic. I'm just not sure it's relevant, but his lawyer seems to think it is. We are in the US. Specially Oregon.

[Canary42]

This is a UK site, so not likely to meet your requirements. But lawyer should know surely (unless he's jut after your money of course).

[barry1010]

I assume he passed his driving test and was licensed and insured to drive, so he should be capable of knowing it is wrong to deliberately drive in to another car. His autism isn't really relevant 

[Buenchico]

Google's AI feature is far from perfect but, for what it's worth, here's what it comes up with:
https://i.postimg.cc/nrWKh7Kz/Oregon-AI.jpg

[newmodarmy]

Is it this incident?

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Family/Question1875312.html

[Peter Pedant]

yes it is relvant - let your brother's lawyer sort it out. No I know nothing of oregan law

[Ringlet]

I can only tell you what is relevant to my life in Northern Ireland. 

Several years ago, I had a minor disagreement with a neighbour.  A few days later, her adult son deliberately mounted the pavement in the car he was driving, and drove straight at me. I had to clamber onto a garden wall to get out of the way of the car.

The incident was caught on CCTV, so there was no denying it.

The police spoke to the adult son in the presence of his father, and reported to me that no further action would be taken about the incident,  because the son is on the autism spectrum, as confirmed by his GP.  

[Old_Geezer]

Nevertheless it sounds as if he wasn't fit to drive. To do nothing is to leave him as a danger of trying it again, maybe next time with a more serious result.