Opinion ID: 381252
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Mental Examinations and the Competency to Stand Trial Determination

Text: 5 Following his arrest, appellant was committed to St. Elizabeths Hospital for a mental examination pursuant to 24 D.C.Code § 301(a). The Hospital report represented the shared opinions of psychiatrist Dr. Glen H. Miller, two other psychiatrists, a psychologist, and a social worker. The report concluded that Wright was competent to stand trial, but had suffered from a mental disease at the time of the offense; the report also diagnosed him as Schizophrenia, paranoid type. 5 6 The judge found appellant competent to stand trial, but in light of the diagnosis, he ordered further psychiatric examination. 6 Informed by Wright's counsel that Wright would not rely on an insanity defense, the court also appointed an amicus curiae to advise the court whether it should impose the defense over Wright's objection. Amicus counsel recommended that an evidentiary hearing be held (1) to determine whether the court should sua sponte raise the insanity defense 7 and (2) to explore carefully the quality of the defendant's decision not to raise the defense. 8