Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_99-cv-02016/USCOURTS-azd-2_99-cv-02016-13/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 535
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Death Penalty
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Ptn for Writ of H/C - Stay of Execution

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WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Ernest Valencia Gonzales, 

Petitioner, 

vs.

Dora B. Schriro, et al., 

Respondents. 

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No. CV-99-2016-PHX-SMM

DEATH PENALTY CASE

ORDER

The parties are preparing for an evidentiary hearing regarding Petitioner’s ability to

rationally communicate with habeas counsel pursuant to Rohan ex rel Gates v. Woodford,

334 F.3d 803 (9th Cir. 2003). At a status hearing held April 30, 2007, Respondents indicated

that they have disclosed the last twelve months of ADOC daily activity logs and prison

visitation records regarding Petitioner, as well as a transcript of an interview of Petitioner by

Respondents’ expert, Dr. Anna Scherzer. Respondents further indicated that they will

forward to Petitioner a higher quality recording of the interview when available.

Respondents also specified that they instructed Dr. Scherzer to forward to Petitioner’s expert,

Dr. Raphael Morris, non-excised copies of the raw data generated from the psychological

assessment instruments utilized by Dr. Scherzer during her evaluation of Petitioner. 

Previously, the Court had ordered each party’s mental health expert to assess and

report regarding Petitioner’s competency to assist counsel. (Dkt. 111.) Dr. Morris opined

that Petitioner is mentally ill and suffering from schizophrenia, disorganized type. Dr.

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Morris concluded that Petitioner is incompetent to assist counsel because he lacks the

capacity to rationally communicate with counsel due to a disorganized thought process and

non-redirectable pattern of speech. Dr. Scherzer disagreed, opining that Petitioner is

competent to assist counsel. Dr. Scherzer maintained that Petitioner has the capacity to

understand his legal position and the ability to communicate with counsel in a

comprehensible manner. Dr. Scherzer further concluded that Petitioner may be malingering

about being incompetent, making it impossible to determine whether paranoia and loosening

of thought processes functionally interfered with Petitioner’s judgment and motivation to

rationally assist legal counsel. In order to arrive at a definite mental health diagnosis, Dr.

Scherzer recommended a sixty-to-ninety-day extended mental health/competency assessment

in a secure mental health lock-down facility.

Based on Dr. Scherzer’s recommendation, Respondents filed a motion to authorize

a transfer of Petitioner to the Arizona State Hospital for an extended mental health evaluation

of his ability to rationally assist habeas counsel. (Dkt. 138.) Petitioner does not oppose the

extended mental health competency evaluation, so long as the evaluation is conducted by

qualified mental health experts. As part of the evaluation, the experts will consider whether

Petitioner is suffering from a mental disease or defect and also whether Petitioner is feigning

or malingering psychiatric symptoms. Following the extended evaluation, the mental health

experts will prepare a comprehensive mental health report regarding Petitioner’s mental

health, specifically addressing his capacity to rationally communicate.

Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED vacating the evidentiary hearing set for May 31 and

June 1, 2007. 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED granting Respondents’ motion for an Order to transfer

Petitioner to the Arizona State Hospital for an extended mental health competency

evaluation. (Dkt. 138.) Petitioner’s transfer to the Arizona State Hospital for an extended

mental health competency evaluation shall be conducted under the following terms and

conditions:

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1. By May 30, 2007, the Arizona Department of Corrections shall transfer Petitioner,

(ADOC Inmate No. 058534) to the Arizona State Hospital, 2500 East Van Buren Street,

Phoenix, Arizona. Respondent Arizona Department of Corrections shall coordinate the

transfer with the Arizona State Hospital.

2. Staff at the Arizona State Hospital shall hold Petitioner in a secure mental health

lock-down facility for up to ninety days for the purpose of assessing his mental health and

competency to assist habeas counsel. Specifically, qualified mental health experts at the

Arizona State Hospital shall consider whether Petitioner has any present mental disease or

defect, including whether he is feigning or malingering psychiatric symptoms. These experts

shall also determine whether Petitioner is capable of communicating rationally.

3. Within twenty-one days after completing the extended evaluation of Petitioner, the

qualified mental health experts of the Arizona State Hospital shall submit a report of their

findings to counsel for Respondents for filing with this Court.

4. After the mental health evaluation has concluded, if the experts of the Arizona

State Hospital determine that Petitioner is not capable of communicating rationally,

Petitioner shall remain at the Arizona State Hospital for up to fifteen months to receive

treatment necessary to restore this ability. In such an event, every sixty days the hospital

shall provide a written status report to Respondents for filing with the Court which shall

update Petitioner’s progress and prognosis, unless prior to the due date of the report, the staff

concludes that Petitioner’s ability to communicate rationally has been restored.

5. Upon concluding that Petitioner is capable of communicating rationally, the

Arizona State Hospital shall contact the Arizona Department of Corrections to transport

Petitioner to SMU II (death row) in Florence, Arizona, and Respondent Arizona Department

of Corrections shall so advise the Court and counsel for Petitioner.

6. Within fourteen days of this Order, after conferring together, counsel for Petitioner

and counsel for Respondents shall furnish the Arizona State Hospital copies of all relevant

records in their possession on the issue of Petitioner’s current mental competency, including

but not limited to the reports of the mental health experts and the Arizona Department of

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Corrections’ mental health records for Petitioner.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED setting this matter for a status hearing on Monday,

October 15, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom No. 605.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court send a certified copy of this

Order to the following:

(1) ASPC Eyman, Attn: Wanda DiMarco/Records, P.O. Box 3500, Florence, AZ

85232; 

(2) Admissions Unit, Arizona State Hospital, 2500 East Van Buren Street,

Phoenix, Arizona 85008; 

(3) Ms. Catherine Plumb, Esq., Assistant Attorney General, 1275 West

Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007; 

(4) Ms. Leticia Marquez, Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, 407 West

Congress Street, Suite 501, Tucson, Arizona 85701–1310; and

(5) Mr. John Pressley Todd, Esq., Assistant Attorney General, 1275 West

Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85007.

DATED this 4th day of May, 2007.

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