Document: 495 U.S. 731 110 S.Ct. 2223 109 L.Ed.2d 762 Peter DEMOSTHENES, Warden, et al.v.Edwin and Doris BAAL.No. A-857. June 3, 1990. PER CURIAM. 1 The State of Nevada has moved to vacate an order the Court Appeals for Ninth Circuit granting a stay execution Thomas E. Baal. We grant State's motion stay. 2 * Baal was convicted sentenced death in District first-degree murder robbery with use deadly weapon. Evidence indicated that after attempting rob Frances P. Maves, stabbed her numerous times, took car, fled. Maves pronounced dead some hours later. Police officers arrested Reno on February 28, 1988. After being given his Miranda warnings, confessed murder. 3 In March 1988, two psychiatrists examined found competent stand trial, able understand right from wrong at time alleged offense, disturbed but not psychotic. arraigned pleaded guilty by reason insanity. A third psychiatrist, Dr. O'Gorman, appointed examine Baal, and, following examination August 31, concluded trial. On September 22, robbery, both three-judge panel unanimously death. Supreme affirmed Baal's conviction sentence, rejecting contention he incompetent enter plea it error conduct competency hearing prior accepting pleas. v. State, 106 Nev. 69, 787 P.2d 391 (1990). 4 filed petition state postconviction relief, but, hearing, changed mind withdrew petition. May 24, 1990, court held evidentiary determine competency. At testified did want continue any proceedings. He further knew date would be put death, waiver relief result psychiatrist competent; prison official who had observed also as competence. reviewed reports three Based this evidence, aware impending it, thus sane under test set forth Ford Wainwright, 477 399, 2595, 91 335 (1986). control faculties, choose decline pursue appeal, made intelligent relief. 5 Approximately one week later, before scheduled execution, Edwin (Baal's parents) federal habeas corpus "next friend" As their grounds petitioners asserted: "Thomas is waive review claims." support claim, relied affidavit non-examining Jerry Howle, 6 United States conducted denied petitioners' application holding that, Court's recent decision Whitmore Arkansas, 149, 1717, 135 (1990), failed establish jurisdiction entertain According Court, provided adequate explanation why could appear own behalf prosecute action. Upon record, all other than newly submitted established legally nature consequences act represent interests these determined Howle's based first-hand examination, conclusory, insufficient warrant psychiatric or additional examinations subsequently certificate probable cause. Petitioners appealed Circuit. 7 divided granted cause stayed execution. That "some minimum showing [Baal's] incompetence" evidence record "at least arguable basis finding full competence should have been district court." Order Godinez, No. 90-157161 (CA9, 2, 1990), pp. 5. Judge Kozinski, dissent, asserted there no substantial incompetence upset competent, which entitled presumption correctness upon review. Dissent, 2226, 2227. II 8 U.S., 165, S.Ct., 1728, we "one necessary condition 'next friend' standing proposed real party interest unable litigate due mental incapacity." See Rosenberg States, 346 273, 291, 73 1152, 1161, 97 L.Ed. 1607 (1953). This prerequisite satisfied "where shows defendant knowing, intelligent, voluntary proceed." Whitmore, 1728. findings Arkansas lacked next-friend court. Id., 165-166, 1728-1729. case, such just brought corpus. reviewing questioning intelligently waived 9 court's determinations merits factual issue are may overturn unless concludes they "fairly supported record." 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(8). conclusion regarding defendant's presumption. Maggio Fulford, 462 111, 117, 103 2261, 2264, 76 794 (1983). proceedings Three opportunity observe talk hearing; trial observing him extensively record. Accordingly, 2254(d)'s correctness, binding supra; see Marshall Lonberger, 459 422, 843, 74 646 (1983) (§ required accept respondent's credibility). 10 place When week, only new presented affidavit, Howle stated 1987 admission, evaluation, discharge summary Hawaii Hospital. directly assert incompetent. Rather, reports, without personally doctor "there believe person legal remedies." Petition Habeas Corpus, 90-243 (D.Nev.), Exhibit D (emphasis added). Cf. Rees Peyton, 384 312, 313, 86 1505, 1506, 16 583 (1966) (District directed make judicial determination petitioner's "filed detailed report concluding [petitioner] mentally incompetent"). determined, "conclusory lacking sufficient foundation substance either defendant." Order, CV-N-90-243-HDM (D.Nev., p. 3. state-court transcript proceeding, well speaking length via telephone. its review, absence "meaningful evidence" incompetency, 166, correctly question proceed. 11 "basis held," 90-15716 5, rely exclusively offered indicate might become hearing. noted, personal conclusory equivocal fashion evaluation examining psychiatrists, "may competent." same Court—the hospital report, testimony suicide attempts. Indeed, because did, even less what essentially determination. supra, 113, 2262. Appeals' erred declining "reflect presence granted." Barefoot Estelle, 463 880, 895, 3383, 3395, 77 1090 12 realize last minute petitions parents row inmates often viewed sympathetically. But courts authorized statutes interfere course specified circumstances. Before stay, therefore, must certain exists exercise power. plainly lacking. proceed intervention. entered Appeals. 13 It so ordered. 14 Justice BLACKMUN STEVENS dissent deny 15 BRENNAN, whom MARSHALL joins, dissenting. today vacates consider case orderly fashion. For second within span few weeks, seen fit administration justice lower vacating issued sound discretion judges much more familiar cases are. Delo Stokes, 320, 1880, 325 I find development unfortunate distressing. 17 action instant particularly unwise. Mr. first petition, capacity next friends. wholly inappropriate early stage collateral process. Judicial Conference's proposal streamlined capital acknowledges, prisoner complete fair system, free pressure execution." Conference Ad Hoc Committee Federal Corpus Capital Cases, Report Proposal (Aug. 1989) 18 recognizes requires our "a provide explanation—such . incompetence, disability—why cannot action." 163, 1727. members family allege claims, seek resolve question. claim. Whether arguments persuasive us issue; whether abused enable reflect family's contentions digest methodical unhurried manner. 19 do can characterized abuse discretion, especially since expedited briefing schedule. merely appeal; ruled competent. " 'substantial denial [a] right.' 893, 3394, (citation omitted). yet rule facts "the issu[e] [is] debatable among jurists reason; [in different manner]; questions 'adequate deserve encouragement further.' n. 4, 20 decided quite precipitately require power disputed if determines allegations, proved true, entitle appropriate standard. Townsend Sain, 372 293, 83 745, 756, 770 (1963). Assuming standard sentence announced 314, (1966), show 21 "has [the] appreciate position rational choice respect continuing abandoning ligitation hand suffering disease, disorder, defect substantially affect premises." 22 released ago, summarized warranting inquiry into competence: "Although contains opinions 1988 assist attorneys, charges against him, reveals hospitalized behavioral problems occasions fourteen years old, attempted four 1987, diagnosed past latent schizophrenic, borderline personality, depressed, organic brain syndrome. And although Jurasky declared March, described 'seriously dangerously person' whose judgment 'is considered impulsive strong antisocial tendencies.' 23 addition, board-certified stating reviewed, 'there [Baal] remedies.' combined fact having remedies, twice April year, provides (June 4-5 (footnote 24 reach does by, effect, advance resolving complex issues own. 25 ago offers today. (1983), relies, consistent view ultimately issue. id., 2264; 119, 2265 (WHITE, J., concur ring judgment). subsidiary enjoy whatever held. answer antecedent question, however, warranted allegations course, receive deference resolution 2254(d). Because hurried, clear "full fair" 26 Even apart posture adhere my penalty circumstances cruel unusual punishment prohibited Eighth Fourteenth Amendments. Gregg Georgia, 428 153, 227, 96 2909, 2950, 49 859 (1976) (BRENNAN, dissenting).

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