Title: Cate v. Alabama
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 1111240
State: Alabama
Issuer: Alabama Supreme Court
Date: June 21, 2013

Rel: 06/21/2013 
Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s 
s u b j e c t t o f o r m a l r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n 
t h e advance 
s h e e t s o f 
Southern Reporter. 
R e a d e r s a r e 
r e q u e s t e d t o 
n o t i f y t h e 
Reporter of Decisions, 
Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-3741 
((334) 229¬
0 6 4 9 ) , o f 
any 
t y p o g r a p h i c a l 
o r 
o t h e r e r r o r s , i n 
o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may 
be 
made b e f o r e 
t h e o p i n i o n i s 
p r i n t e d i n 
Southern Reporter. 
SUPREME COURT OF ALABAMA 
OCTOBER TERM, 2012-2013 
1111240 
Ex parte Tonya G. Cate 
PETITION FOR WRIT OF MANDAMUS 
(In r e : 
Tonya G. Cate 
v. 
State of 
Alabama) 
(Etowah C i r c u i t Court, CC-2005-000211) 
PARKER, J u s t i c e . 
Tonya G. Cate p e t i t i o n s t h i s C o u r t f o r 
a w r i t o f mandamus 
d i r e c t i n g t h e 
Etowah 
C i r c u i t 
C o u r t ("the 
t r i a l 
c o u r t " ) t o 
v a c a t e i t s 
o r d e r r e q u i r i n g Cate t o 
submit t o 
an 
e x a m i n a t i o n 
t o 
1111240 
d e t e r m i n e her m e n t a l 
c o n d i t i o n a t the time of the 
c a p i t a l 
o f f e n s e 
she 
i s a l l e g e d 
t o have 
committed. 
We 
g r a n t 
the 
p e t i t i o n and i s s u e the w r i t . 
I. F a c t s and P r o c e d u r a l H i s t o r y 
Cate 
has 
been 
i n d i c t e d 
f o r 
c a p i t a l 
m u r d e r ; 
i t i s 
u n d i s p u t e d t h a t Cate has not e n t e r e d a p l e a o f not g u i l t y by 
r e a s o n of m e n t a l d i s e a s e or d e f e c t . 
Her 
t r i a l was 
s e t t o 
b e g i n on October 24, 2011. 
W h i l e p r e p a r i n g f o r t r i a l , 
Cate's 
a t t o r n e y c o n s u l t e d a m i t i g a t i o n e x p e r t , who e x p r e s s e d c o n c e r n 
t h a t Cate had not been s u b j e c t e d t o a m e n t a l e x a m i n a t i o n t o 
d e t e r m i n e her competency t o s t a n d t r i a l . 
On September 29, 
2011, C a t e ' s a t t o r n e y f i l e d a motion t o c o n t i n u e the 
t r i a l , 
r e q u e s t i n g , among o t h e r t h i n g s , t h a t Cate be s u b j e c t e d t o a 
m e n t a l e x a m i n a t i o n . 
In the m o t i o n , Cate's a t t o r n e y d i d not 
s p e c i f y t h a t Cate was r e q u e s t i n g a m e n t a l e x a m i n a t i o n o n l y t o 
d e t e r m i n e her competency t o s t a n d 
t r i a l . 
C a t e ' s a t t o r n e y 
r e q u e s t e d a c o n t i n u a n c e t o a l l o w a m e n t a l e x a m i n a t i o n t o be 
c o n d u c t e d and s t a t e d i n the m o t i o n : 
" I t 
i s unknown a t t h i s 
time i f t h e r e may 
be 
u n d e r l y i n g 
p s y c h o l o g i c a l 
problems, 
conduct, 
d i s o r d e r s , 
d e p r e s s i o n or any 
o t h e r 
i n d i c a t i o n 
of 
m e n t a l 
i l l n e s s . 
The 
m i t i g a t i o n 
s p e c i a l i s t 
has 
a d v i s e d t h a t i n a [ ] u s u a l case, i t t a k e s a year t o 
complete 
t h i s 
i n v e s t i g a t i o n b u t t h a t she would be 
2 
1111240 
w i l l i n g t o e x p e d i t e h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n i f g i v e n u n t i l 
March 2012. O t h e r w i s e , t h e 
m i t i g a t i o n s p e c i a l i s t has 
a d v i s e d 
t h a t she would n o t p a r t i c i p a t e 
i n s a i d 
i n v e s t i g a t i o n . The m i t i g a t i o n e x p e r t f u r t h e r 
s t a t e d 
t h a t 
s a i d 
m e n t a l 
e v a l u a t i o n would be h e l p f u l t o 
d e t e r m i n e t h e e x t e n t , i f 
any, o f any i n v e s t i g a t i o n 
t h a t would need t o be made i n r e g a r d s t o f a m i l y 
p s y c h o l o g i c a l 
h i s t o r y . " 
On October 4, 2011, t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t e n t e r e d an o r d e r 
r e q u i r i n g 
Cate 
t o submit 
t o 
i n p a t i e n t 
e x a m i n a t i o n s t o 
d e t e r m i n e h e r competency t o s t a n d t r i a l and t o d e t e r m i n e h e r 
m e n t a l 
c o n d i t i o n a t t h e time o f t h e a l l e g e d 
o f f e n s e . 
On 
November 8, 2011, 
C a t e ' s a t t o r n e y f i l e d a motion t o 
amend 
t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t ' s October 4, 2011, 
o r d e r , a r g u i n g t h a t under R u l e 
1 1 . 2 ( a ) ( 2 ) , A l a . R. Crim. P.,
1 t h e t r i a l c o u r t d i d 
n o t have 
1 R u l e 1 1 . 2 ( a ) , A l a . R. Crim. P, s t a t e s : 
"(a) M o t i o n s . 
"(1) Competency t o Stand T r i a l . When a p e r s o n 
c h a r g e d w i t h a crime i s 
b e f o r e a c i r c u i t c o u r t , t h e 
d e f e n d a n t , t h e 
d e f e n d a n t ' s a t t o r n e y , 
o r 
t h e d i s t r i c t 
a t t o r n e y may p e t i t i o n f o r , o r t h e c o u r t on i t s 
own 
motion may o r d e r , an e x a m i n a t i o n t o a s s i s t i n 
t h e 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s 
p r e s e n t 
m e n t a l 
c o n d i t i o n and competency t o s t a n d 
t r i a l . 
"(2) M e n t a l C o n d i t i o n a t 
Time o f O f f e n s e . I f t h e 
d e f e n d a n t has t i m e l y r a i s e d a d e f e n s e o f 'not g u i l t y 
by r e a s o n o f m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t ' e i t h e r by 
t h e 
e n t r y o f a p l e a o r by 
f i l i n g a p r e - t r i a l 
motion 
p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 15, 
t h e 
c o u r t on i t s 
own motion may 
o r d e r , o r t h e d e f e n d a n t , t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s a t t o r n e y , 
or t h e d i s t r i c t a t t o r n e y 
may move f o r an e x a m i n a t i o n 
3 
1111240 
the 
d i s c r e t i o n t o o r d e r Cate t o submit t o an e x a m i n a t i o n t o 
d e t e r m i n e her m e n t a l 
c o n d i t i o n a t the time of the 
a l l e g e d 
o f f e n s e because Cate had not " r a i s e d a defense of 'not g u i l t y 
by r e a s o n of m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t ' e i t h e r by e n t r y of a 
p l e a or by 
f i l i n g 
a p r e - t r i a l motion p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 
15, 
[ A l a . 
R. Crim. P . ] . " 
R u l e 1 1 . 2 ( a ) ( 2 ) . On December 21, 2011, 
the 
t r i a l c o u r t amended i t s 
October 4, 2011, o r d e r as f o l l o w s : 
" T h i s m a t t e r h a v i n g come b e f o r e the C o u r t on the 
motion of [ C a t e ] , and the C o u r t h a v i n g r e v i e w e d the 
f i l e and n o t e d t h a t t h e r e has been no defense o f not 
g u i l t y by r e a s o n of m e n t a l d i s e a s e or d e f e c t , 
and 
f u r t h e r 
t h a t 
t h e r e has been no 
p r e - t r i a l 
motion 
p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 15[, A l a . R. Crim. P.,] r e q u e s t i n g 
a m e n t a l e v a l u a t i o n f o r m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n a t the time 
of 
the 
a l l e g e d 
o f f e n s e ; 
i t i s hereby 
o r d e r e d , 
adjudged 
and 
d e c r e e d 
t h a t 
the 
e v a l u a t i o n 
t o 
be 
p e r f o r m e d 
on [ C a t e ] be 
l i m i t e d 
t o an 
o u t p a t i e n t 
e v a l u a t i o n 
of 
her 
p r e s e n t 
m e n t a l 
c o n d i t i o n 
and 
competency t o s t a n d 
t r i a l . " 
On 
J a n u a r y 
3, 
2012, 
the 
S t a t e 
f i l e d 
a 
motion 
t o 
r e c o n s i d e r the 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s December 21, 2011, 
o r d e r 
and 
r e q u e s t e d a h e a r i n g on the m a t t e r . 
On the same day, the S t a t e 
a l s o 
f i l e d 
a motion 
f o r e x a m i n a t i o n s t o d e t e r m i n e 
Cate's 
c u r r e n t m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n and competency t o s t a n d t r i a l and t o 
d e t e r m i n e her m e n t a l 
c o n d i t i o n a t the t i m e of the 
a l l e g e d 
i n t o the d e f e n d a n t ' s m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n a t the time of 
the 
o f f e n s e . " 
4 
1111240 
o f f e n s e . 
Cate c l a i m s t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t , a l s o on t h e same 
day, 
e n t e r e d an 
o r d e r 
g r a n t i n g 
t h e S t a t e ' s motion f o r 
e x a m i n a t i o n s t o d e t e r m i n e Cate's competency t o s t a n d t r i a l and 
to d e t e r m i n e h e r m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n a t t h e time o f t h e a l l e g e d 
o f f e n s e ; a copy o f t h i s o r d e r i s n o t , however, a t t a c h e d t o 
C a t e ' s p e t i t i o n . 
Cate a l s o s t a t e s t h a t she was n o t s e r v e d 
w i t h t h e o r d e r and t h a t i t 
was never i n c l u d e d i n t h e c o u r t 
f i l e . 
R a t h e r , Cate c l a i m s t o have d i s c o v e r e d t h e o r d e r when 
her a t t o r n e y was c o n t a c t e d by t h e h o s p i t a l t h a t was a l l e g e d l y 
o r d e r e d t o examine Cate. 
On J a n u a r y 12, 2012, Cate's 
a t t o r n e y 
f i l e d a 
m o t i o n 
o b j e c t i n g t o 
t h e o r d e r Cate a l l e g e s t h e t r i a l c o u r t e n t e r e d on 
J a n u a r y 
3, 2012, r e q u i r i n g 
Cate 
t o submit 
t o a 
m e n t a l 
e x a m i n a t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e h e r m e n t a l s t a t e a t t h e time o f 
t h e 
a l l e g e d o f f e n s e . 
Cate a l s o r e q u e s t e d a s t a y o f t h e a l l e g e d 
o r d e r and a h e a r i n g on t h e m a t t e r . 
Cate a l s o argued, i n t h e 
a l t e r n a t i v e , 
t h a t , 
i f such an e x a m i n a t i o n 
o c c u r r e d , h e r 
a t t o r n e y be a l l o w e d t o be p r e s e n t t o a d v i s e h e r as t o h e r 
F i f t h , 
S i x t h , E i g h t h , and F o u r t e e n t h Amendment r i g h t s . 
The 
t r i a l 
c o u r t s e t t h e m a t t e r f o r a h e a r i n g t o be 
c o n d u c t e d on J a n u a r y 23, 2012. A t t h e h e a r i n g , Cate withdrew 
5 
1111240 
her m o t i o n r e q u e s t i n g a m e n t a l e x a m i n a t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e her 
competency t o s t a n d t r i a l . 
Cate c l a i m e d t h a t her m i t i g a t i o n 
e x p e r t had met w i t h her s e v e r a l t i m e s s i n c e her September 2 
9, 
2011, motion and t h a t the m i t i g a t i o n e x p e r t no l o n g e r had any 
c o n c e r n about Cate's competency t o s t a n d 
t r i a l . 
A t 
the 
h e a r i n g , the 
t r i a l 
c o u r t s t a y e d i t s o r d e r r e q u i r i n g Cate t o 
submit t o a m e n t a l e x a m i n a t i o n and r e q u e s t e d t h a t the p a r t i e s 
submit b r i e f s on the i s s u e ; b o t h p a r t i e s c o m p l i e d . 
On 
F e b r u a r y , 
1, 
2012, 
the 
S t a t e 
f i l e d 
i t s b r i e f 
i n 
s u p p o r t of i t s m o t i o n f o r m e n t a l e x a m i n a t i o n s t o d e t e r m i n e 
b o t h Cate's competency t o s t a n d t r i a l and her m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n 
at the time of the a l l e g e d o f f e n s e . 
The S t a t e argued t h a t i t 
was 
e n t i t l e d 
t o 
have 
Cate 
s u b m i t t e d 
t o 
the 
r e q u e s t e d 
e x a m i n a t i o n s p u r s u a n t t o § 15-16-22(a), A l a . Code 1975, w h i c h 
s t a t e s : 
"(a) 
Whenever i t s h a l l be made known t o t h e 
p r e s i d i n g j u d g e o f a c o u r t by w h i c h an i n d i c t m e n t 
has been r e t u r n e d a g a i n s t a d e f e n d a n t f o r a c a p i t a l 
o f f e n s e , t h a t t h e r e i s r e a s o n a b l e ground t o b e l i e v e 
t h a t such d e f e n d a n t may p r e s e n t l y l a c k the c a p a c i t y 
to 
p r o c e e d 
o r c o n t i n u e t o 
t r i a l , 
as 
d e f i n e d i n 
S e c t i o n 22-52-30, or whenever s a i d j u d g e 
r e c e i v e s 
n o t i c e 
t h a t 
the 
d e f e n s e 
of 
s a i d 
d e f e n d a n t 
may 
p r o c e e d on the b a s i s o f m e n t a l d i s e a s e or d e f e c t as 
a d e f e n s e t o c r i m i n a l 
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y ; i t s h a l l 
be 
the 
d u t y o f the p r e s i d i n g j u d g e t o f o r t h w i t h o r d e r 
t h a t such d e f e n d a n t be committed t o the Department 
of 
M e n t a l 
H e a l t h 
and 
M e n t a l 
R e t a r d a t i o n 
f o r 
6 
1111240 
e x a m i n a t i o n 
by 
one 
o r 
more 
m e n t a l 
h e a l t h 
p r o f e s s i o n a l s a p p o i n t e d by the Commissioner 
o f the 
Department o f M e n t a l H e a l t h and M e n t a l R e t a r d a t i o n . 
The commissioner 
s h a l l p l a c e t h e defendant under the 
o b s e r v a t i o n and e x a m i n a t i o n o f one o r more mental 
h e a l t h 
p r o f e s s i o n a l s , 
each 
o f whom i s e i t h e r 
a 
l i c e n s e d 
p s y c h o l o g i s t h o l d i n g a P s y . D. o r Ph.D 
degree o r a l i c e n s e d p h y s i c i a n who s p e c i a l i z e s i n 
p s y c h i a t r y . 
The 
a s s i g n e d 
m e n t a l 
h e a l t h 
p r o f e s s i o n a l ( s ) 
s h a l l 
examine t h e defendant 
w i t h 
r e s p e c t t o d e t e r m i n i n g t h e p r e s e n c e o f any mental 
d i s e a s e 
o r 
d e f e c t 
w h i c h , 
i f d e t e r m i n e d 
t o be 
p r e s e n t , would a f f e c t t h e c a p a c i t y o f t h e d e f e n d a n t 
t o 
p r o c e e d 
o r c o n t i n u e t o 
t r i a l 
o r which 
would 
a f f e c t t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s 
c r i m i n a l 
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a t 
the time o f t h e commission o f t h e c r i m e . " 
The S t a t e a l s o a s s e r t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g : 
" C o u n s e l f o r [ C a t e ] c l e a r l y made known t o the 
C o u r t i n 
h i s s u b m i s s i o n o f September 29, 2011, t h a t 
t h e r e was r e a s o n a b l e ground t o q u e s t i o n [ C a t e ' s ] 
c a p a c i t y t o p r o c e e d t o t r i a l , and n o t e d 
s p e c i f i c a l l y 
i n h i s motion 
t h a t t h e r e was a q u e s t i o n r e g a r d i n g 
' u n d e r l y i n g 
p s y c h o l o g i c a l 
problems, 
conduct, 
d i s o r d e r s , 
d e p r e s s i o n o r any o t h e r 
i n d i c a t i o n o f 
m e n t a l i l l n e s s . ' Once t h e s e i s s u e s have been r a i s e d , 
the Alabama Code s e c t i o n n o t e d above r e q u i r e s 
t h a t 
the C o u r t o r d e r an i n p a t i e n t e v a l u a t i o n . C o u n s e l f o r 
[ C a t e ] cannot s i m p l y withdraw t h e r e q u e s t once t h a t 
i s s u e i s p l a c e d b e f o r e t h e C o u r t , as t o do so may 
r e s u l t i n r e v e r s i b l e 
e r r o r . " 
(Emphasis i n o r i g i n a l . ) 
Cate 
responded 
on 
F e b r u a r y 
13, 2012, a r g u i n g 
t h a t , 
p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 1 1 . 2 ( a ) , A l a . 
R. Crim. P., she cannot be 
c o m p e l l e d t o submit t o an e x a m i n a t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e h e r mental 
c o n d i t i o n a t t h e time o f the a l l e g e d o f f e n s e because she had 
7 
1111240 
not p l e a d e d " o r r a i s e d the defense o f not g u i l t y by r e a s o n o f 
m e n t a l d i s e a s e or d e f e c t as r e q u i r e d under R u l e 1 1 . 2 ( a ) ... i n 
o r d e r t o a u t h o r i z e a S t a t e m e n t a l e v a l u a t i o n as t o the mental 
c o n d i t i o n and competency o f [ C a t e ] a t the time o f the a l l e g e d 
o f f e n s e . " 
F u r t h e r , Cate 
a d d r e s s e d 
the 
S t a t e ' s argument 
r e g a r d i n g § 15-16-22(a), A l a . Code 1975, as 
f o l l o w s : 
" [ T ] h e p r o v i s i o n s o f § 15-16-22, A l a . Code ( 1 9 7 5 ) [ , ] 
have no a p p l i c a t i o n t o the p r e s e n t case. [ C a t e ] has 
not p l e a d [ e d ] not g u i l t y by r e a s o n o f mental d i s e a s e 
or 
d e f e c t . 
A t 
the 
h e a r i n g on 
J a n u a r y 
23, 
2012, 
c o u n s e l f o r [ C a t e ] s t a t e d t h a t [ C a t e ] d i d not i n t e n d 
to 
r a i s e 
the d e f e n s e 
o f not 
g u i l t y by 
r e a s o n 
o f 
m e n t a l 
d i s e a s e 
or 
d e f e c t . 
T h i s 
C o u r t 
has 
not 
r e c e i v e d n o t i c e from [ C a t e ] i n any form or f a s h i o n 
t h a t 
[ C a t e ] i n t e n d s t o 
r a i s e 
o r p r o c e e d 
on 
the 
d e f e n s e o f not g u i l t y by r e a s o n o f mental d i s e a s e o r 
d e f e c t as 
t o 
c r i m i n a l 
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . 
[ C a t e ] has 
a d v i s e d the C o u r t t h a t her m i t i g a t i o n e x p e r t w i l l be 
l o o k i n g 
i n t o 
[ C a t e ' s ] 
c h i l d h o o d , 
u p b r i n g i n g , 
e d u c a t i o n , r e l a t i o n s h i p s , f r i e n d s h i p s , f o r m a t i v e and 
t r a u m a t i c e x p e r i e n c e s , and p e r s o n a l p s y c h o l o g y 
and 
p r e s e n t 
f e e l i n g s 
f o r purposes 
o f m i t i g a t i o n 
i n a 
c a p i t a l murder case. However, [ C a t e ] and [ C a t e ' s ] 
c o u n s e l 
i n t e n d 
t o 
do 
t h e s e 
i n v e s t i g a t i o n s 
f o r 
purposes o f the m i t i g a t i o n s t a g e , i f n e c e s s a r y , and 
not f o r purposes o f a d e f e n s e o f mental d i s e a s e o r 
d e f e c t a t the time o f the a l l e g e d o f f e n s e . " 
On F e b r u a r y 23, 2012, 
the 
t r i a l c o u r t e n t e r e d an o r d e r 
r e q u i r i n g Cate t o submit t o e x a m i n a t i o n s t o d e t e r m i n e b o t h her 
competency t o s t a n d t r i a l and her mental c o n d i t i o n a t the time 
of t h e a l l e g e d o f f e n s e . 
8 
1111240 
On March 23, 2012, Cate 
f i l e d a p e t i t i o n f o r 
a w r i t o f 
mandamus w i t h t h e C o u r t o f C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s ; t h e S t a t e 
f i l e d 
a r e s p o n s e . 
On June 15, 2012, t h e C o u r t o f C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s 
d e n i e d C a t e ' s mandamus p e t i t i o n by an o r d e r o f t h a t c o u r t , Ex 
p a r t e Cate (No. CR-11-0949, June 15, 2012), 
So. 3d 
( A l a . 
Crim. App. 2012) ( t a b l e ) , s t a t i n g i n p e r t i n e n t p a r t : 
"Cate 
a s s e r t s 
t h a t 
because 
she withdrew h e r 
m o t i o n f o r a m e n t a l e v a l u a t i o n , [ t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t ] 
m e n t a l 
e v a l u a t i o n . 
1975, 
s p e c i f i c a l l y 
s t a t e s t h a t i t 
i s 
t h e d u t y o f t h e c o u r t t o o r d e r a 
had no 
a u t h o r i t y t o o r d e r a menta 
S e c t i o n 
15-16-22, 
A l a . Code 
1975, 
s p e c i f i c a l l y 
m e n t a l 
e v a l u a t i o n 
when 
t h e 
c o u r t 
i s 
g i v e n 
' r e a s o n a b l e grounds' t o b e l i e v e 
t h a t a d e f e n d a n t 
l a c k s t h e c a p a c i t y t o p r o c e e d a t t r i a l o r when t h e 
d e f e n d a n t has r a i s e d t h e d e f e n s e o f 'not g u i l t y by 
r e a s o n o f m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t . ' See Ex p a r t e 
L a F l o r e 
So. 2d 932 ( A l a . 1983) ('It 
i s e q u a l l y 
u i i a u x n v i e w o f Pate [y 
Robinson 
ooo 
U 
S 
375 
L a F l o r e , 445 So. 2d 932 ( A l a . 1983) ('It 
i s e q u a l l y 
c l e a r t h a t i n v i e w o f Pate [v. R o b i n s o n , 383 U.S. 
375 
(1966)], 
P i e r c e v. S t a t e , 52 A l a . App. 422, 293 
So. 2d 483 (1973), c e r t . quashed, 292 A l a . 745, 293 
So. 2d 489 [ ( 1 9 7 4 ) ] ; and Edgerson v. S t a t e , 53 A l a . 
App. 581, 302 So. 2d 556 (1974), a t r i a l 
c o u r t has 
an i n d e p e n d e n t d u t y t o i n q u i r e 
i n t o an accused's 
s t a t e o f mind when t h e r e a r e r e a s o n a b l e grounds t o 
doubt 
t h e accused's 
competency t o s t a n d 
t r i a l . ' 
(Emphasis 
a d d e d . ) ) . 
S e c t i o n 
15-16-22, A l a . Code 
1975, 
f u r t h e r p r o v i d e s t h a t t h e e x a m i n a t i o n may 
i n c l u d e 
an e v a l u a t i o n 
o f t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s 
m e n t a l 
competency t o p r o c e e d a t t r i a l and h i s / h e r 
m e n t a l 
s t a t e a t t h e time o f t h e o f f e n s e . " 
On June 26, 2012, Cate p e t i t i o n e d t h i s C o u r t f o r 
a w r i t o f 
mandamus. 
I I . S t a n d a r d o f Review 
9 
1111240 
"Mandamus i s a d r a s t i c and e x t r a o r d i n a r y 
w r i t 
t h a t w i l l be i s s u e d o n l y when t h e r e i s : 1) a c l e a r 
l e g a l r i g h t i n t h e p e t i t i o n e r t o t h e o r d e r sought; 
2) 
an 
i m p e r a t i v e d u t y 
upon 
t h e respondent 
t o 
p e r f o r m , accompanied by a r e f u s a l t o do so; 3) t h e 
l a c k o f a n o t h e r adequate 
remedy; and 4) p r o p e r l y 
i n v o k e d j u r i s d i c t i o n o f t h e c o u r t . Ex p a r t e AmSouth  
Bank, N.A., 589 So. 2d 715 ( A l a . 1991); Ex p a r t e  
Day, 584 So. 2d 493 ( A l a . 1991)." 
Ex p a r t e U n i t e d Serv. S t a t i o n s , I n c . , 
628 So. 2d 501, 503 
( A l a . 
1993). 
I I I . 
A n a l y s i s 
R e l y i n g upon R u l e 1 1 . 2 ( a ) , s e t f o r t h above, Cate argues 
t h a t t h e t r i a l c o u r t exceeded i t s 
d i s c r e t i o n i n 
c o m p e l l i n g 
h e r 
to submit t o an e x a m i n a t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e h e r m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n 
at t h e time o f t h e a l l e g e d o f f e n s e because she d i d 
n o t e n t e r 
a p l e a o f not g u i l t y by r e a s o n o f m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t . 
Cate 
argues 
t h a t 
i t was n o t w i t h i n 
t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s 
d i s c r e t i o n t o compel h e r t o submit t o such an e x a m i n a t i o n 
because, 
Cate 
a r g u e s , 
an 
e x a m i n a t i o n 
t o 
d e t e r m i n e 
a 
d e f e n d a n t ' s 
m e n t a l 
c o n d i t i o n a t t h e time o f t h e 
a l l e g e d 
o f f e n s e i s a p p r o p r i a t e o n l y i f 
t h e d e f e n d a n t 
f i r s t r a i s e s "a 
d e f e n s e o f 'not g u i l t y by r e a s o n o f m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t ' 
e i t h e r by t h e e n t r y o f a p l e a o r by f i l i n g a p r e - t r i a l motion 
p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 15." R u l e 1 1 . 2 ( a ) ( 2 ) . 
10 
1111240 
The S t a t e r e l i e s h e a v i l y upon § 15-16-22(a), s e t f o r t h 
above, i n s u p p o r t o f i t s a s s e r t i o n 
t h a t i t 
was w i t h i n t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s d i s c r e t i o n t o compel Cate t o submit t o an 
e x a m i n a t i o n 
t o d e t e r m i n e h e r m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n a t t h e time o f 
the 
a l l e g e d o f f e n s e even though Cate had n o t p l e a d e d not 
g u i l t y by r e a s o n o f m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t . 
The S t a t e 
argues t h a t "Cate gave n o t i c e t h a t h e r m i t i g a t i o n 
'defense,' 
i n t h e 
words o f [§] 15-16-22(a) would 'proceed on t h e 
b a s i s o f 
m e n t a l 
d i s e a s e 
o r 
d e f e c t 
as 
a 
defense 
t o 
c r i m i n a l 
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . ' " 
R u l e 11.2(a) d i s t i n g u i s h e s an e x a m i n a t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e a 
d e f e n d a n t ' s competency t o s t a n d t r i a l from an e x a m i n a t i o n t o 
d e t e r m i n e a d e f e n d a n t ' s m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n a t t h e time o f 
t h e 
a l l e g e d o f f e n s e .
2 
R u l e 1 1 . 2 ( a ) ( 2 ) s t a t e s t h a t " t h e c o u r t on 
i t s own motion may o r d e r , o r t h e d e f e n d a n t , t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s 
a t t o r n e y , o r 
t h e d i s t r i c t a t t o r n e y 
may move f o r an e x a m i n a t i o n 
i n t o t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s m e n t a l 
c o n d i t i o n a t t h e time o f t h e 
2The Committee Comments t o 
R u l e 11.2 (as Amended E f f e c t i v e 
October 
1, 1996) make t h e d i s t i n c t i o n 
between 
t h e two 
e x a m i n a t i o n s c l e a r : " S u b s e c t i o n ( b ) ( 1 ) , which i s s i m i l a r t o 
R u l e 1 2 . 2 ( c ) , Fed. 
R. Crim. P., and 18 U.S.C. § 4241, makes 
i t 
c l e a r t h a t t h e 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n 
o f t h e d e f e n d a n t ' s competency t o 
s t a n d t r i a l i s 
s e p a r a t e and d i s t i n c t from t h e 
d e t e r m i n a t i o n 
o f 
h i s 
s a n i t y a t t h e time o f t h e o f f e n s e . " 
11 
1111240 
o f f e n s e " 
" [ i ] f the d e f e n d a n t has t i m e l y r a i s e d a defense o f 
'not g u i l t y by r e a s o n o f m e n t a l d i s e a s e or d e f e c t ' e i t h e r by 
the 
e n t r y o f a p l e a or by f i l i n g a p r e - t r i a l motion p u r s u a n t 
t o R u l e 15." 
(Emphasis added.) 
Under R u l e 1 1 . 2 ( a ) ( 2 ) , t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t o b t a i n s d i s c r e t i o n t o o r d e r an e x a m i n a t i o n t o 
d e t e r m i n e the d e f e n d a n t ' s m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n a t t h e time o f t h e 
a l l e g e d 
o f f e n s e o n l y 
a f t e r 
the d e f e n d a n t 
has 
r a i s e d t h e 
d e f e n s e o f n o t g u i l t y by r e a s o n o f m e n t a l d i s e a s e or d e f e c t . 
See Hugh Maddox, Alabama R u l e s o f C r i m i n a l Procedure § 11.2 a t 
11-41 
(5th 
ed. 2011) ("As t h e R u l e s p e c i f i c a l l y s t a t e s , 
t h i s 
e x a m i n a t i o n [ t o 
d e t e r m i n e the d e f e n d a n t ' s m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n a t 
the 
t i m e 
o f t h e 
a l l e g e d 
o f f e n s e ] 
i s t r i g g e r e d 
when 
a 
d e f e n d a n t , a t a r r a i g n m e n t , 
f i l e d 
a p l e a o f n o t g u i l t y by 
r e a s o n o f m e n t a l d i s e a s e or d e f e c t 
" ) . 
S e c t i o n 
15-16-22(a) 
does 
not g r a n t the 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
d i s c r e t i o n 
t o o r d e r a d e f e n d a n t 
t o submit 
t o a 
m e n t a l 
e x a m i n a t i o n independent o f the p r o c e d u r a l framework o f R u l e 
1 1 . 2 ( a ) .
3 
R a t h e r , § 15-16-22(a) e s t a b l i s h e s t h e "duty o f t h e 
3"Any p r o v i s i o n s o f t h i s 
t i t l e r e g u l a t i n g p r o c e d u r e 
s h a l l 
a p p l y o n l y i f 
the p r o c e d u r a l s u b j e c t m a t t e r i s 
n o t governed by 
r u l e s o f p r a c t i c e and p r o c e d u r e adopted by t h e Supreme C o u r t 
of Alabama." 
§ 15-1-1, A l a . 
Code 1975. 
12 
1111240 
p r e s i d i n g 
judge t o f o r t h w i t h 
o r d e r " a m e n t a l e x a m i n a t i o n , 
p u r s u a n t t o R u l e 11.2, 
"[w]henever i t s h a l l be made known t o t h e p r e s i d i n g 
judge o f a c o u r t by which an i n d i c t m e n t has been 
r e t u r n e d a g a i n s t a d e f e n d a n t f o r a c a p i t a l o f f e n s e , 
t h a t t h e r e i s 
r e a s o n a b l e ground t o b e l i e v e t h a t such 
d e f e n d a n t may p r e s e n t l y l a c k t h e c a p a c i t y t o p r o c e e d 
or 
c o n t i n u e t o 
t r i a l , 
as 
d e f i n e d 
i n 
S e c t i o n 
22-52-30, o r whenever 
s a i d 
judge 
r e c e i v e s 
n o t i c e 
t h a t t h e d e f e n s e o f s a i d d e f e n d a n t may p r o c e e d on 
the 
b a s i s o f m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t as a d e f e n s e 
to 
c r i m i n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y 
" 
Under § 15-16-22(a), as under R u l e 1 1 . 2 ( a ) ( 2 ) , t h e judge may 
o r d e r t h e d e f e n d a n t t o submit t o a m e n t a l e x a m i n a t i o n t o 
d e t e r m i n e "the d e f e n d a n t ' s c r i m i n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a t 
t h e 
time 
of 
t h e commission o f t h e c r i m e " o n l y i f 
t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
" r e c e i v e s 
n o t i c e 
t h a t t h e defense o f s a i d 
d e f e n d a n t may 
p r o c e e d on t h e 
b a s i s o f m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t as a d e f e n s e 
to 
c r i m i n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . " 
The d u t y imposed by 15-16-22(a) 
upon t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t t o o r d e r a m e n t a l e x a m i n a t i o n o f a 
d e f e n d a n t i s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h R u l e 1 1 . 2 ( a ) ( 2 ) ; § 15-16-22(a) 
does not 
expand t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s d i s c r e t i o n beyond t h e l i m i t s 
e s t a b l i s h e d by R u l e 1 1 . 2 ( a ) . 
When r e a d t o g e t h e r , R u l e 11.2(a) and 
§ 15-16-22 s t a n d f o r 
the 
p r o p o s i t i o n t h a t a judge p r e s i d i n g over a c a p i t a l case has 
a d u t y t o o r d e r t h e d e f e n d a n t t o submit t o an e x a m i n a t i o n t o 
13 
1111240 
d e t e r m i n e the d e f e n d a n t ' s competency t o s t a n d t r i a l when the 
judge has r e a s o n a b l e grounds t o b e l i e v e t h a t the d e f e n d a n t may 
l a c k 
the competency t o s t a n d 
t r i a l . 
L i k e w i s e , 
the 
judge 
p r e s i d i n g 
over 
a 
c a p i t a l 
case 
has 
a 
d u t y 
t o 
o r d e r 
the 
d e f e n d a n t 
t o 
submit 
t o 
an 
e x a m i n a t i o n 
t o 
d e t e r m i n e 
the 
d e f e n d a n t ' s 
m e n t a l 
c o n d i t i o n 
a t the 
time 
o f 
the 
a l l e g e d 
o f f e n s e once a d e f e n d a n t e n t e r s a p l e a o f not g u i l t y by r e a s o n 
of 
m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t . 
See Maddox, Alabama R u l e s o f  
C r i m i n a l P r o c e d u r e , s u p r a . 
Under 
the 
f a c t s 
o f 
t h i s 
case, 
the 
t r i a l 
c o u r t 
had 
r e a s o n a b l e grounds t o b e l i e v e t h a t Cate l a c k e d the c a p a c i t y t o 
p r o c e e d or t o c o n t i n u e t o t r i a l , and, t h u s , t h e 
t r i a l c o u r t 
had the d i s c r e t i o n t o o r d e r Cate t o submit t o an e x a m i n a t i o n 
to d e t e r m i n e her competency t o s t a n d t r i a l . 
However, because 
Cate never e n t e r e d a p l e a o f not g u i l t y by r e a s o n o f m e n t a l 
d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t , the t r i a l c o u r t d i d not have the d i s c r e t i o n 
to 
o r d e r Cate t o submit t o an e x a m i n a t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e 
her 
m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n a t the time o f the a l l e g e d o f f e n s e . 
The S t a t e a r g u e s , as mentioned above, t h a t Cate d i d r a i s e 
the 
d e f e n s e o f not 
g u i l t y by 
r e a s o n o f m e n t a l d i s e a s e or 
d e f e c t by i n d i c a t i n g her i n t e n t t o "use e v i d e n c e o f her m e n t a l 
14 
1111240 
s t a t e a t t h e time o f t h e crime t o m i t i g a t e h e r s e n t e n c e . " The 
S t a t e argues t h a t , " [ o ] n c e Cate had made t h i s r e q u e s t , t h e 
judge was e n t i t l e d t o o r d e r a m e n t a l e v a l u a t i o n under [§] 15-
1 [ 6 ] - 2 2 ( a ) . " 
The 
S t a t e has f a i l e d t o c i t e any a u t h o r i t y 
i n d i c a t i n g 
t h a t a c a p i t a l d e f e n d a n t ' s i n t e n t t o i n t r o d u c e e v i d e n c e a t 
t h e 
s e n t e n c i n g 
h e a r i n g ,
4 
assuming 
t h e 
d e f e n d a n t 
has 
been 
c o n v i c t e d , t o prove t h e m i t i g a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s s e t f o r t h i n 
§ 13A-5-51, A l a . Code 1975, i s 
t h e same as e n t e r i n g a p l e a o f 
not g u i l t y by r e a s o n o f m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t , and we can 
f i n d no a u t h o r i t y t o s u p p o r t t h i s c l a i m . 
The S t a t e does 
r e l y 
upon Jones v. S t a t e , 43 So. 3d 1258 ( A l a . 
Crim. App. 2007), i n 
making t h i s argument, b u t Jones does n o t s u p p o r t t h e S t a t e ' s 
argument. 
4 S e c t i o n 13A-5-45(a), A l a . Code 1975, s t a t e s , i n p e r t i n e n t 
p a r t , 
t h a t , "[u]pon c o n v i c t i o n o f a d e f e n d a n t o f a 
c a p i t a l 
o f f e n s e , t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t 
s h a l l conduct a s e p a r a t e s e n t e n c e 
h e a r i n g t o d e t e r m i n e whether t h e d e f e n d a n t s h a l l be s e n t e n c e d 
t o 
l i f e imprisonment w i t h o u t p a r o l e o r t o d e a t h . " 
F u r t h e r , § 
13A-5-45(c), A l a . Code 1975, s t a t e s , i n p e r t i n e n t p a r t , 
t h a t 
" [ a ] t t h e s e n t e n c e h e a r i n g e v i d e n c e may be p r e s e n t e d as t o 
any 
m a t t e r t h a t t h e c o u r t deems r e l e v a n t t o s e n t e n c e and s h a l l 
i n c l u d e any m a t t e r s r e l a t i n g t o 
t h e a g g r a v a t i n g 
and m i t i g a t i n g 
c i r c u m s t a n c e s r e f e r r e d t o i n S e c t i o n s 13A-5-49, 13A-5-51 and 
13A-5-52[, A l a . Code 1975]." 
15 
1111240 
In Jones, the d e f e n d a n t was c h a r g e d w i t h f o u r counts of 
c a p i t a l murder and, 
i n h i s appearance b e f o r e the 
d i s t r i c t 
c o u r t f o l l o w i n g h i s a r r e s t , " e n t e r e d p l e a s o f not g u i l t y 
by 
r e a s o n 
o f 
i n s a n i t y , 
not 
g u i l t y 
by 
r e a s o n 
o f 
temporary 
i n s a n i t y , and not g u i l t y per s e . " 
43 So. 3d a t 1279. 
The 
d e f e n d a n t then appeared b e f o r e the c i r c u i t c o u r t and, 
a f t e r 
b e i n g a r r a i g n e d i n the c i r c u i t c o u r t , e n t e r e d o n l y a p l e a o f 
not g u i l t y . 
The defendant " a l s o r e q u e s t e d t h i r t y days t o 
f i l e 
any s p e c i a l p l e a s and s p e c i f i c a l l y r e f e r e n c e d a p o s s i b l e p l e a 
of not g u i l t y by r e a s o n o f i n s a n i t y . " 
I d . 
The S t a t e t h e n 
" r e q u e s t e d a mental e x a m i n a t i o n and the d e f e n s e argued 
t h a t 
the 
r e q u e s t 
was 
premature." 
I d . 
Over 
the 
d e f e n d a n t ' s 
o b j e c t i o n , the t r i a l c o u r t g r a n t e d the S t a t e ' s r e q u e s t f o r a 
m e n t a l e x a m i n a t i o n o f the d e f e n d a n t . 
The 
C o u r t 
o f C r i m i n a l A p p e a l s , 
r e v i e w i n g whether 
the 
t r i a l 
c o u r t had e r r e d i n g r a n t i n g the S t a t e ' s motion 
f o r a 
m e n t a l e x a m i n a t i o n o f the d e f e n d a n t , 
h e l d : 
" A l t h o u g h R u l e 
1 1 . 2 ( a ) ( 1 ) , A l a . R. 
C r i m . 
P., 
a p p l i e s o n l y t o d e f e n d a n t s who are 'before a c i r c u i t 
c o u r t , ' R u l e 1 1 . 2 ( a ) ( 2 ) , A l a . R. Crim. P., does n o t . 
R a t h e r , R u l e 1 1 . 2 ( a ) ( 2 ) , A l a . R. Crim. P., 
a p p l i e s 
' [ i ] f 
the d e f e n d a n t has t i m e l y r a i s e d a d e f e n s e o f 
"not g u i l t y by r e a s o n o f m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t . " ' 
Based on the [ d e f e n d a n t ' s ] not g u i l t y by r e a s o n of 
i n s a n i t y 
and 
not 
g u i l t y 
by 
r e a s o n 
o f 
temporary 
16 
1111240 
i n s a n i t y p l e a s 
i n d i s t r i c t 
c o u r t , 
i t appears 
t h a t 
the 
S t a t e p r o p e r l y 
r e q u e s t e d 
a m e n t a l 
e x a m i n a t i o n 
even though 
the 
[defendant] 
had 
not 
y e t 
e n t e r e d 
s i m i l a r 
p l e a s 
i n 
the 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t . 
A l s o , 
§ 
15-16-22, 
A l a . 
Code 
1975, 
p r o v i d e s 
t h a t , 
i f 
a 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
r e c e i v e s 
n o t i c e 
t h a t 
a 
c a p i t a l 
d e f e n d a n t 
'may 
p r o c e e d 
on 
the 
b a s i s 
of 
m e n t a l 
d i s e a s e 
or 
d e f e c t 
as 
a 
d e f e n s e 
t o 
c r i m i n a l 
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , ' 
i t 
s h o u l d 
o r d e r 
a 
m e n t a l 
e x a m i n a t i o n . 
Based on 
the 
i n f o r m a t i o n 
the 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
had 
c o n c e r n i n g 
the 
[ d e f e n d a n t ' s ] 
p l e a s 
i n 
d i s t r i c t 
c o u r t , 
the 
p r e v i o u s 
p r o c e e d i n g s 
i n 
the 
c i r c u i t c o u r t , and c o u n s e l ' s 
r e s e r v a t i o n 
c o n c e r n i n g 
s p e c i a l 
p l e a s , 
the 
c i r c u i t 
c o u r t 
c o u l d 
have 
r e a s o n a b l y 
c o n c l u d e d 
t h a t 
the 
[defendant] 
might 
p r o c e e d on 
the 
b a s i s 
o f 
a p l e a 
of not 
g u i l t y 
by 
r e a s o n of 
i n s a n i t y . 
T h e r e f o r e , 
i t d i d not 
e r r i n 
g r a n t i n g 
the 
S t a t e ' s 
m o t i o n 
f o r 
a 
m e n t a l 
e v a l u a t i o n . " 
43 So. 3d a t 
1280. 
U n l i k e 
the d e f e n d a n t i n Jones, Cate n e i t h e r e n t e r e d 
a 
p l e a of not g u i l t y by r e a s o n o f m e n t a l d i s e a s e or d e f e c t 
nor 
i n d i c a t e d t h a t she 
i n t e n d s t o r a i s e her m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n a t 
the time o f the a l l e g e d o f f e n s e as a d e f e n s e t o her 
c r i m i n a l 
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . 
R a t h e r , a t the J a n u a r y 23, 
2012, 
h e a r i n g , 
C a t e ' s c o u n s e l 
s t a t e d : 
"And 
the 
o n l y 
way 
an 
e x a m i n a t i o n 
as 
t o 
the 
m e n t a l s t a t u s of the d e f e n d a n t a t the time of 
the 
a l l e g e d o f f e n s e 
can be done i s i f the d e f e n s e 
[of 
not g u i l t y by r e a s o n o f m e n t a l d i s e a s e or d e f e c t ] i s 
a f f i r m a t i v e l y p l e a d [ e d ] by the d e f e n d a n t . 
We 
have 
not r a i s e d t h a t i n t h i s case, Your Honor. 
17 
1111240 
"Back i n October of l a s t year — 
The o n l y i s s u e 
b r o u g h t up, 
f r a n k l y , i f you remember, we had a l o t 
of 
i s s u e s r a i s e d , but t h e r e was one i s s u e about the 
f a c t 
t h a t an 
e v a l u a t i o n had 
not been done as 
t o 
competency t o s t a n d t r i a l 
and the C o u r t o r d e r e d 
— 
I t ' s 
my u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t ' s what the C o u r t o r d e r e d . 
But we d i d not r a i s e t h a t she — 
Never have r a i s e d , 
not 
i n the 
D i s t r i c t 
C o u r t 
l e v e l 
and 
not 
i n 
t h i s 
l e v e l — 
In f a c t , we are r e p r e s e n t i n g t o the C o u r t 
t h a t we are not g o i n g t o be r a i s i n g t h a t d e f e n s e . " 
The q u e s t i o n o f Cate's m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n o r i g i n a t e d when Cate's 
m i t i g a t i o n 
e x p e r t 
e x p r e s s e d 
c o n c e r n 
r e g a r d i n g 
Cate's 
competency t o s t a n d t r i a l . 
Cate then r e q u e s t e d a c o n t i n u a n c e 
so she c o u l d be examined t o d e t e r m i n e her competency t o s t a n d 
t r i a l . 
Cate e x p l i c i t l y s t a t e d t h a t she was not r a i s i n g her 
m e n t a l 
c o n d i t i o n 
a t the time o f the 
a l l e g e d o f f e n s e as 
a 
d e f e n s e t o her c r i m i n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . 
F u r t h e r , as s e t f o r t h 
above, Cate 
a l s o 
s t a t e d i n her b r i e f o p p o s i n g the S t a t e ' s 
b r i e f 
i n s u p p o r t o f i t s motion 
f o r mental 
e x a m i n a t i o n s 
t o 
d e t e r m i n e b o t h Cate's competency t o s t a n d t r i a l and her mental 
c o n d i t i o n a t t h e time o f the a l l e g e d o f f e n s e t h a t Cate 
would 
use any e v i d e n c e c o n c e r n i n g her mental c o n d i t i o n a t the time 
of 
the 
a l l e g e d 
o f f e n s e o n l y 
t o prove 
m i t i g a t i o n 
a t 
her 
s e n t e n c i n g h e a r i n g s h o u l d she be 
c o n v i c t e d o f the 
c a p i t a l 
o f f e n s e . 
Based on t h o s e f a c t s , Jones i s d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e from 
t h i s case and does not s u p p o r t the S t a t e ' s argument. 
18 
1111240 
IV. 
C o n c l u s i o n 
I t i s 
u n d i s p u t e d t h a t Cate has n o t e n t e r e d a p l e a o f 
n o t 
g u i l t y by r e a s o n o f m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t . N e i t h e r R u l e 
1 1 . 2 ( a ) ( 2 ) 
nor § 
15-16-22(a) 
g i v e t h e 
t r i a l 
c o u r t t h e 
d i s c r e t i o n t o o r d e r 
t h a t 
Cate be s u b j e c t e d t o a 
m e n t a l 
e x a m i n a t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e h e r m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n a t t h e time o f 
the 
a l l e g e d o f f e n s e . 
T h e r e f o r e , t h e t r i a l c o u r t exceeded i t s 
d i s c r e t i o n i n s o f a r as i t o r d e r e d t h a t Cate be s u b j e c t e d t o 
an 
e x a m i n a t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e h e r m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n a t t h e time o f 
the 
a l l e g e d o f f e n s e . 
Cate has d e m o n s t r a t e d 
t h a t she has a 
c l e a r l e g a l r i g h t t o 
t h e r e l i e f sought. 
A c c o r d i n g l y , we g r a n t 
C a t e ' s p e t i t i o n and i s s u e t h e 
w r i t o r d e r i n g t h e t r i a l c o u r t 
t o 
v a c a t e i t s 
F e b r u a r y 23, 
2012, 
o r d e r i n s o f a r as i t o r d e r e d t h a t 
Cate be s u b j e c t e d t o an e x a m i n a t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e h e r m e n t a l 
c o n d i t i o n a t t h e time o f t h e a l l e g e d o f f e n s e .
5 
PETITION GRANTED; WRIT ISSUED. 
S t u a r t , B o l i n , Main, Wise, and B r y a n , J J . , c o n c u r . 
Murdock and Shaw, J J . , concur i n 
t h e r e s u l t . 
Moore, C . J . , d i s s e n t s . 
5 C a t e does n o t c h a l l e n g e t h e t r i a l c o u r t ' s o r d e r i n s o f a r 
as t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t o r d e r e d t h a t 
Cate be s u b j e c t e d t o an 
e x a m i n a t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e h e r competency t o s t a n d t r i a l ; t h u s , 
the 
p o r t i o n o f t h e t r i a l 
c o u r t ' s o r d e r r e q u i r i n g 
Cate t o 
submit t o 
an e x a m i n a t i o n t o d e t e r m i n e h e r competency t o s t a n d 
t r i a l remains i n e f f e c t . 
19 
1111240 
MURDOCK, J u s t i c e 
( c o n c u r r i n g i n the 
r e s u l t ) . 
I 
q u e s t i o n 
the 
s t a t e m e n t 
i n the 
main 
o p i n i o n 
t h a t 
"[§] 
1 5 - 1 6 - 2 2 ( a ) [ , A l a . Code 1975,] does not g r a n t the 
t r i a l 
c o u r t d i s c r e t i o n t o o r d e r a d e f e n d a n t t o submit t o a m e n t a l 
e x a m i n a t i o n 
independent 
of 
the 
p r o c e d u r a l 
framework 
of 
R u l e 
1 1 . 2 ( a ) [ , 
A l a . R. 
Crim. 
P . ] . " 
So. 
3d 
a t 
(emphasis added). 
I b e l i e v e the d i s p o s i t i v e q u e s t i o n i n the 
p r e s e n t case i s whether n o t i c e o f i n t e n t i o n t o use a m e n t a l 
d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t i n the m i t i g a t i o n phase o f a c a p i t a l - m u r d e r 
t r i a l i s n o t i c e o f i n t e n t t o use t h a t m e n t a l d i s e a s e o r d e f e c t 
"as a d e f e n s e t o c r i m i n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . " 
Because I do not 
r e a d the s t a t u t e as p r o v i d i n g an a f f i r m a t i v e answer t o 
t h i s 
q u e s t i o n , I concur i n the 
r e s u l t . 
20