Dr. Litney is the Boulder Court appointed psychiatrist assigned, in The Mork & Mindy Special, to assess Mork's mental fitness for a commitment hearing, after Mork is arrested by Deputy Ed Tilwick, who, when trying to drive Mork out of Mindy's life, actively suspects that Mork is crazy. Dr. Litney is played by actor Dick Yarmy, in the first of his three appearances on the show as different characters.
About Dr. Litney[]
Dr. Litney is first seen in the midst of the commitment hearing, which has already begun when Mindy arrives, in her attempt to stop it, or at least speak up for Mork. Litney however, has already made up his mind about Mork, having assessed him the night before following Mork's arrest, and informs the court that Mork is extremely childlike and incapable of learning. He has also exhibited 'marked anti-social behavior', and is, in his judgement incompetent to function in society.
When Mork's ineffectual lawyer has no cross-examination of his findings, Mork ultimately rises to his own defense, taking on the persona of a southern lawyer, and cross-examining the psychiatrist, Accusing the psychiatrist of not liking him. Something that apparently starts to be true, as it gradually comes out through Mork's manipulation of Litney's arguments, that he massively frustrated the psychiatrist the night before. Somehow managing to get a square peg into a round hole, and ruining his board.
Litney accuses Mork of being a wise acre. Mork pointing out that Litney doesn't like wise acres does he? Litney admitting wholeheartedly that he doesn't. Which is why he's prejudiced against him, Mork asserts, forcing Litney on the defensive, Litney pointing out to the judge how he's cleverly twisting his words, when Mork points out that now he's saying he's clever, and reminding the judge that the case hinges on his ability to learn, the Judge starting to be won over.
Litney tries to fight back, tells the judge that Mork outright flunked his word association test, but when Mork tries it on him, he manages to uncover a ménage a trois with Litney, the prosecutor and Pamela, the court stenographer leading to a stampede of stenographer psychiatrist and prosecutor out of the room. With no one but Mork, his 'defense lawyer', Mindy and Fred left, the Judge. while noting that Mork brings new meaning to the word eccentric, has little choice but to rule in Mork's favor.