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Judge Denies Motion to Acquit Lindsay Clancy in Deaths of Her Three Children

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 20 outlets, mostly right-leaning (60%).

31 articles in total, 2 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

A Massachusetts judge on Thursday denied a defense motion seeking a required finding of not guilty for Lindsay Clancy, who is charged with killing her three children — 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson and 8-month-old Callan — in 2023. Judge William Sullivan ruled that prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence for a jury to find Clancy criminally responsible. The ruling follows a mistrial declared September 4 after a hung jury. During that trial, Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, did not dispute that she killed the children but argued she was not criminally responsible due to postpartum psychosis. This week Reddington argued prosecutors had not proven she committed the killings, a claim prosecutors called “laughable.” Reddington says his argument has been consistent throughout the case. Prosecutors have not said whether they will seek a retrial.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. Judge William Sullivan denied the defense’s motion for a required finding of not guilty.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  2. Reddington argued prosecutors had not presented sufficient evidence that Clancy killed her three children.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  3. During the trial, Clancy’s defense did not dispute that she killed the children, instead arguing she was not criminally responsible due to postpartum psychosis.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  4. The first trial ended September 4 in a mistrial after a hung jury.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  5. Prosecutors called Reddington’s claim that there was no evidence Clancy committed the killings “laughable.”

    Reported byLeftCenter

Show 2 more pointsShow fewer points

  1. Reddington said in a podcast interview that his lack-of-evidence argument was not a new strategy but one he has made throughout the case.

    Reported byLeftRight

  2. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek a retrial.

    Reported byLeftCenter

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • Whether Reddington changed his legal strategy by arguing lack of evidence of the killing itself.

    Fox News and the New York Post describe this as an apparent reversal or backpedal from the earlier insanity defense; Reddington himself, quoted in both outlets, says he has consistently argued lack of evidence throughout the case, including in closing arguments and earlier motions.

  • Whether there was sufficient evidence to find Clancy criminally responsible.

    Reddington argued prosecutors failed to prove Clancy was the one who killed the children due to an insufficient investigation; prosecutors said there was ample evidence, calling the defense’s claim “laughable”; Judge Sullivan sided with prosecutors, ruling the evidence was sufficient for a jury to decide.

How each side tells it

Compare views

  • the left

    5 outlets

    Left-side headlines describe the judge’s ruling in straightforward procedural terms, with one outlet (The Washington Post) separately examining the defense’s disputed strategy.

    Judge in Lindsay Clancy’s Case Declines to Find Her Not Guilty After Mistrial
    The New York TimesLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    3 outlets

    Center outlets, including one relying on an Associated Press report, report the denial plainly without dramatic framing.

    Judge denies Lindsay Clancy’s bid for acquittal after mistrial
    Straight Arrow NewsCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    12 outlets · 1 opinion

    Right-side headlines often frame Reddington’s argument as a dramatic reversal or setback, using terms like “major blow” and “shock evidence claims,” alongside more neutral procedural headlines from some outlets.

    Lindsay Clancy Lawyer's Motion for a Not Guilty Verdict Is Rejected
    TownhallFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left1

    shocks court

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right15

    explosive doubtdamage his reputation beyond repairblocked her acquittalkiller mom

In the outlets’ own words

  • Sensational language

    explosive doubtMore neutral: new doubt

    Characterizes the legal argument with dramatic, attention-grabbing language rather than a neutral description.

    Lindsay Clancy lawyer raises explosive doubt over who killed her children

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    damage his reputation beyond repairMore neutral: harm his reputation

    Presents the attorneys' goal in dramatic, exaggerated terms rather than neutral description of their stated intent.

    …client retroactively thrown off the jury — and if that didn’t work, to damage his reputation beyond repair in the court of public opinion.

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    shocks courtMore neutral: surprises court

    Uses dramatic language to characterize a legal argument rather than describing it neutrally.

    Lindsay Clancy's lawyer shocks court, claims there's no evidence she killed her kids

    Used byCBS News (Left)

  • Loaded verb

    blocked her acquittalMore neutral: voted against acquittal

    Frames the holdout juror's vote as an obstruction rather than a neutral description of a dissenting vote.

    …Reddington faces a bar complaint from attorneys for the holdout juror who blocked her acquittal at trial.

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

Show 12 more phrasesShow fewer

  • Absolutist framing

    killer momMore neutral: the mother accused of killing her children

    States as settled fact that Clancy is a killer despite the case ending in a mistrial and guilt being legally undetermined.

    …triple murder trial revealed their plans to file a bar complaint against the killer mom’s lawyer.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    nothing short of a goat rodeoMore neutral: a chaotic case

    Exaggerates the chaos of the case using dismissive, mocking language rather than neutral description.

    The Lindsay Clancy case has been nothing short of a goat rodeo since the trial began in July.

    Used byPJ Media (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    Stunning MoveMore neutral: New Move

    Dramatizes a routine legal filing with exaggerated language.

    Lindsay Clancy Attorney Makes Stunning Move in Court That Will Make the Pink Lady Caterwaulers Swoon

    Used byPJ Media (Far Right)

  • Dehumanizing label

    Pink Lady CaterwaulersMore neutral: Clancy's supporters

    Mocks and demeans supporters of Clancy by reducing them to a contemptuous caricature.

    Lindsay Clancy Attorney Makes Stunning Move in Court That Will Make the Pink Lady Caterwaulers Swoon

    Used byPJ Media (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    slammedMore neutral: criticized

    An intensified verb used to describe criticism, adding drama beyond a neutral description.

    "The View" co-hosts slammed Lindsay Clancy's lawyer Kevin Reddington on Wednesday for shifting from a postpartum…

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Loaded verb

    blastsMore neutral: criticizes

    A dramatic verb that editorializes the panel's criticism rather than describing it neutrally.

    'The View' panel blasts Lindsay Clancy defense attorney for 'moving the goalposts' on evidence

    Used byFox News (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    Major BlowMore neutral: Rejects Defense Motion

    Frames a routine procedural ruling as a dramatic defeat rather than describing the ruling itself.

    Judge Deals Major Blow To Lindsay Clancy’s Defense

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    apparent stunning reversalMore neutral: apparent shift in strategy

    Dramatizes a legal strategy shift with intensifying language rather than describing it factually.

    Lindsay Clancy's lawyer set the record straight after making an apparent stunning reversal of his trial strategy of arguing the insanity defense for the accused killer…

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Loaded modifier

    accused killer momMore neutral: the mother charged in the case

    Combines an accusatory label with an unproven conclusion of guilt, prejudging the case.

    …stunning reversal of his trial strategy of arguing the insanity defense for the accused killer mom.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    psychoticMore neutral: (omit) and quote the statement

    Diagnoses the speaker instead of quoting them.

    …on his trial tactic of not disputing that she killed the kids but claiming she was psychotic at the time.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    shock evidence claimsMore neutral: lack-of-evidence argument

    Manufactures drama around a legal argument rather than describing it neutrally.

    Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer sets record straight after shock evidence claims at killer mom’s hearing

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Dehumanizing label

    killer mom’s hearingMore neutral: her hearing

    Labels Clancy as a convicted killer before any verdict has been reached.

    Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer sets record straight after shock evidence claims at killer mom’s hearing

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

Words quoted from someone else (1)Hide the quoted words

Loaded words that outlets reported someone else saying. They show what was said, not how the outlet chose to say it.

  • Loaded modifier

    Quoted

    moving the goalpostsMore neutral: changing his argument

    A quoted but pointed characterization that frames the attorney's strategy shift as unfair manipulation.

    'The View' panel blasts Lindsay Clancy defense attorney for 'moving the goalposts' on evidence

    Quoted byFox News (Far Right)

    Inside a quotation: the outlets are reporting someone else’s words.

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

5 outlets

Leads with

  • judge’s ruling and legal process
  • path toward a potential retrial
See the 5 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

From the center

3 outlets

Leads with

  • judge’s denial of the motion
  • lack of evidence claim and prosecutors’ response

Leaves out

  • Reddington’s claim that his strategy has been consistent throughout the case

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 3 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
  • Straight Arrow NewsCenter

    Judge denies Lindsay Clancy’s bid for acquittal after mistrial

    The judge said prosecutors presented enough evidence for a jury to consider whether Clancy knew what she was doing was wrong.

    Read at Straight Arrow News (opens in a new tab)
  • PBS NewsHourCenterAssociated Press report

    Judge denies motion asking for Lindsay Clancy to be found not guilty due to lack of evidence

    The judge in the Lindsay Clancy murder case on Thursday refused to declare her not guilty, turning down a defense motion that had argued there wasn't enough evidence to prove she was responsible for killing her three children.

    Read at PBS NewsHour (opens in a new tab)
  • Sky NewsCenter

    Lindsay Clancy's request for not guilty verdict denied by judge

    Lindsay Clancy, the woman accused of killing her three children, has failed to have the charges against her dropped due to a lack of evidence.

    Read at Sky News (opens in a new tab)

From the right

12 outlets · 1 opinion

Leads with

  • characterization of Reddington’s courtroom strategy as a reversal
  • details of the judge’s legal reasoning
  • Clancy’s guilt presumed in some descriptive language
See the 13 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    3 hr 48 min later

    Its first report, Sep 30, 9:48 AM EDT

  • Center

    1 day 12 hr later

    Its first report, Oct 1, 6:21 PM EDT

  • Right

    First to report

    Fox News, Sep 30, 6:00 AM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. Fox NewsFar RightSep 30, 6:00 AM EDT
  2. The Daily WireFar RightSep 30, 7:34 AM EDT
  3. CBS NewsLeftSep 30, 9:48 AM EDT
  4. New York PostRightSep 30, 1:28 PM EDT
  5. The Washington PostLeftSep 30, 8:12 PM EDT
  6. ABC NewsLeftOct 1, 4:07 PM EDT
  7. The GuardianLeftOct 1, 4:27 PM EDT
  8. RedStateFar RightOct 1, 4:50 PM EDT
  9. Washington ExaminerRightOct 1, 5:21 PM EDT
  10. One America NewsFar RightOct 1, 5:23 PM EDT
  11. The New York TimesLeftOct 1, 5:52 PM EDT
  12. The Washington TimesRightOct 1, 6:04 PM EDT
  13. Sky NewsCenterOct 1, 6:21 PM EDT
  14. PBS NewsHourCenterOct 1, 7:09 PM EDT
  15. The Epoch TimesFar RightOct 1, 8:22 PM EDT
  16. TheBlazeFar RightOct 2, 5:00 AM EDT
  17. Straight Arrow NewsCenterOct 2, 6:58 AM EDT
  18. The Western JournalFar RightOct 2, 8:45 AM EDT
  19. TownhallFar RightOct 2, 11:30 PM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

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