If there is evidence that a defendant might not be competent to stand trial, due process demands that a competency hearing be held.
The question of when a defendant in a criminal case is competent to stand trial — as opposed to when he is “faking it” to get one over on the criminal justice system — can be complicated. Pop culture is full of examples of savvy criminals pretending to be mentally ill, have dementia or to otherwise be incompetent as a way of avoiding responsibility for their crimes. While it’s unclear how often this happens in the real world, a recent California Court of Appeals decision has shed some light on courts’ responsibility to make sure that defendants with mental illnesses are given a fair trial.
In the case of People v. Johnson, a man named Derek Johnson, had been imprisoned after being charged with mayhem. He allegedly got into a fight with his girlfriend after a night of drinking, and jumped on her, biting her on the face. He was waiting for trial in his cell when he began to harm himself. According to a jail guard, he was head-butting the ground, slapping and punching himself. His injuries were substantial, including a swollen and cut eye socket and a bloody eyebrow. He was unable to attend trial that day. His attorney argued that he had a history of psychiatric disorders, and asked for a competency hearing to determine if he was fit to stand trial. The trial judge refused the request and stated that Johnson was just trying to work the system. Mr. Johnson, who also shouted to voices in his head and defecated in his pants, did not attend his trial and was convicted without being present (in absentia).
Mr. Johnson appealed the ruling, and the California Court of Appeals found that the trial judged erred. As a criminal defense attorney Los Angeles, CA can explain, the appeals court overturned the trial court’s ruling, finding that Mr. Johnson was entitled to a hearing to determine if he was competent to stand trial. According to the court, it violated Mr. Johnson’s right to due process to not have a competency hearing. When there is substantial evidence to suggest that a defendant is incompetent — as in the case of Mr. Johnson, with his history of mental illness and self-harming behavior — the Court of Appeals found that due process requires “a full exploration of the defendant’s mental health to determine if, in fact, he or she is competent to stand trial.” The appeals court reversed Mr. Johnson’s conviction, but noted that there was sufficient evidence of mayhem for future prosecution.
Competency to stand trial is critical to our system of criminal justice. If a person is not mentally competent, he or she cannot assist his or her criminal defense attorney Los Angeles, CA, and cannot otherwise make informed decisions about the case. This case is important, as it affirms the right of a defendant in a criminal case to have a competency hearing to ensure that he is fit to stand trial if there is substantial evidence to indicate that he may be incompetence. An experienced criminal defense attorney Los Angeles, CA can help a defendant in a criminal case determine if he is entitled to a competency hearing.
The Chambers Law Firm represents people who have been charged with crimes throughout Los Angeles County. Contact our firm today at 714-760-4088 or dchambers@clfca.com to schedule a free initial consultation with a criminal defense attorney Los Angeles, CA.
