Case Title: State v. Williams

Citation: 363 So. 2d 441

Docket Number: 

State: louisiana

Court: Louisiana Supreme Court

Date: 1978-10-09T00:00:00Z

Document:
363 So. 2d 441 (1978) STATE of Louisiana v. James WILLIAMS. No. 61772. Supreme Court of Louisiana. October 9, 1978. Brian Perry, New Orleans, for defendant-relator. William J. Guste, Jr., Atty. Gen., Barbara Rutledge, Asst. Atty. Gen., Harry F. Connick, Dist. Atty., William L. Brockman, Asst. Dist. Atty., for plaintiff-respondent. SUMMERS, Justice. On June 26, 1975 James Williams was indicted by the Grand Jury of Orleans Parish for aggravated rape, alleged to have been committed on June 14, 1975. La.Rev. Stat. 14:42. The record sheds little light on the circumstances surrounding this charge save that set forth in the arrest register. From this source we learn that the offense occurred in the city of New Orleans at 4:45 a. m. on June 14, 1975. Williams was arrested approximately eight hours later and positively identified by the victim. The weapon used was a knife. The accused was represented by counsel, who alleged in a motion on July 28, 1975 that Williams was apparently deaf and dumb and he was therefore unable to communicate with his counsel and that testing was necessary to ascertain his true physical state. Accordingly on the same day the trial judge ordered the sheriff to transport Williams to the Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans, Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology. On August 1, 1975 the LSU Speech and Language Clinic reported to defendant's counsel. The report set forth: History Examination Impressions Recommendations An August 4, 1975 report of the Audiology Clinic was also furnished in which this audiological evaluation was made. Orders were issued thereafter requiring defendant to be examined on a continuing basis and that he be fitted with a hearing aid. This progress report was sent to the trial judge on May 10, 1976: Apparently, because of his attempted escape, Williams was no longer permitted to attend the therapy sessions on a regular basis. Furthermore, according to the experts, he was not benefitting significantly from the therapy program. In their opinion his condition required an intense full-time aural rehabilitation program to produce any significant improvement in his communicative abilities. That service could not be provided in Louisiana. An effort to arrange for Williams to participate in such a program with the Crossroads Rehabilitation Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, was unsuccessful because that facility could not provide the security required for a person under a felony indictment involving a violent crime. Under the circumstances the LSU Department of Speech and Pathology was of the opinion on September 30,1977 that further therapy on a limited basis would be useless because that department could not supply the intense program considered necessary for Williams. Under the circumstances, the Department was of the opinion that Williams' communicative disability would continue indefinitely and he would be incapable of standing trial in the future as he was when he was charged. Then, on December 12, 1977, Williams through counsel, alleged in a motion that he was incarcerated in the Orleans Parish Prison, that he had been found incompetent to stand trial, medical testimony indicated there was no likelihood of his condition improving in the foreseeable future, and he was deaf and dumb, unable to read or write and did not know, and apparently could not be taught, any form of meaningful communication. For these reasons, it was alleged, it was impossible for Williams to assist his attorney in his defense. Therefore, the motion concluded, the State was obligated to dismiss the indictment against Williams or move to civilly commit him, or show cause to the contrary. In its answer to the motion the State asserts that Williams, a deaf mute, would be a danger to himself and others if he were released. Further, the answer alleges that the State knew of no statutory or codal authority which provides for the civil commitment of a defendant suffering from such a physical defect and the State knew of no institution capable of improving defendant's communicative abilities and providing necessary security while doing so. After a hearing on December 12,1977 the trial judge denied the motion. Defense counsel applied for certiorari and the writ was granted. 355 So. 2d 941 (La.). It is the State's position that the record does not indicate that psychological tests have been administered to determine whether Williams suffers from mental disease or mental retardation. In addition, it is the State's belief that Williams could respond to proper intensive therapy to develop his communicative ability. At the same time, the State concedes that such treatment is not presently available in Louisiana. Therefore, the State contends that under the peculiar circumstances of this case the motion to release or civilly commit is premature at this time. Instead, it is contended the case should be remanded to the district court for further inquiry into Williams' mental condition as distinguished from his physical condition. There are provisions in our law for the judicial commitment of persons who are mentally ill or gravely disabled. La.Rev. Stat. 28:54. The alternatives available are to either release this defendant, who is *445 charged with a violent crime, or remand to permit inquiry into his mental illness for which treatment is available. Faced with the proposition that no one is beyond the reach of the law, the choice must be resolved, at least at this time, in favor of the State's request for additional time to have Williams tested psychologically. Ultimately, even if he is found to be mentally ill, he cannot be held indefinitely on that account if his condition is incurable. If he is mentally ill and responds to treatment, however, and if his communicative ability can be improved to the point where he can assist his counsel in his defense, he can be tried; provided these restorative procedures can be accomplished without delay. Otherwise the State must release Williams. Jackson v. Indiana, 406 U.S. 715, 92 S. Ct. 1845, 32 L. Ed. 2d 435 (1972); State ex rel. Lockhart v. Armistead, 351 So. 2d 496 (La. 1977); People v. Lang, 325 N.E.2d 305 (Ill.App.1975); People v. Myers, 263 N.E.2d 113 (Ill.1970); "The Strange Case of Donald Lang", ABA Journal Vol. 64, p. 1178 (Aug. 1978). For the reasons assigned, the case is remanded to the trial court to be proceeded with in accordance with the reasons assigned.