Opinion ID: 758855
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: vargas presents sufficient evidence of her standing to request a stay

Text: 45 As discussed above, Vargas's standing depends on a showing by a sufficient quantum of evidence (1) that she is truly dedicated to the best interests of Sagastegui and (2) he is not competent to make the decision whether or not to pursue a habeas petition. 46
47 Vargas easily meets the best interests requirement. There is essentially a per se rule that a parent meets this prong of the next friend standing test. See, e.g., Hamilton v. Texas, 485 U.S. 1042, 108 S.Ct. 1761, 100 L.Ed.2d 187 (1988)(mother); Evans v. Bennett, 440 U.S. 1301, 99 S.Ct. 1481, 59 L.Ed.2d 756 (1979)(Rehnquist, J., Circuit Justice)(mother); Gilmore v. Utah, 429 U.S. 1012, 97 S.Ct. 436, 50 L.Ed.2d 632 (1976)(mother); Brewer v. Lewis, 989 F.2d 1021 (9th Cir.1993)(mother). We also note that other members of Sagastegui's family and loved ones appear to support Vargas's petition. 48 Although Sagastegui insists it is in his best interests to be executed, crediting his position begs the question of his competence. If Sagastegui is not competent to rationally determine his best interests, his viewpoint is not determinative. Moreover, we reject the contention that, simply because a condemned prisoner wants to be executed, it is not even debatable among reasonable jurists whether an otherwise qualified next friend represents the prisoner's best interests. To accept that proposition would almost categorically eliminate next friend petitions. 49
50 The Supreme Court has held that the prerequisite showing of the real party in interest's incompetence is not satisfied 'where an evidentiary hearing shows that the defendant has given a knowing, intelligent, and voluntary waiver of his right to proceed.'  Baal, 495 U.S. at 734, 110 S.Ct. 2223. A state court's determination regarding a defendant's competency is entitled to a presumption of correctness on federal habeas review. Id. at 735, 110 S.Ct. 2223. A federal court may not overturn such determinations unless their correctness is rebutted by clear and convincing evidence. 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1). 51 The trial court twice determined that Sagastegui was competent--most recently following the hearing held on March 11, 1996. The Washington Supreme Court explicitly affirmed those findings. Unless those findings are rebutted, we cannot conclude that Sagastegui was incompetent on or before March 11, 1996. Moreover, those findings are extremely well supported by expert opinions, psychological testing, and Sagastegui's courtroom demeanor. 52 Vargas's challenges to the state trial court's findings at the March 1996 hearing rest on: (1) affidavits from laypersons who know Sagastegui that suggest he is mentally ill and suffers from multiple personalities, (2) evidence that Sagastegui prevented a full and fair hearing about his competence by concealing his mental illness, (3) the existence of medical reports about Sagastegui's competence that were not presented to the trial court, and (4) the affidavit of Dr. Frankel that suggests Sagastegui might suffer from a mental illness that prior experts failed to rule out. 53 None of the evidence presented by Vargas clearly and convincingly rebuts the state court's findings based on its March 1996 hearing. The lay affidavits do present assertions that the examining experts and the trial court would undoubtedly have found helpful in assessing Sagastegui's competence. Many of these possibilities were, however, known to the experts who determined Sagastegui was nonetheless competent at that time. Vargas presents nothing to suggest that, even in the absence of the trial court's findings, this evidence would establish Sagastegui's incompetence. Dr. Frankel's report is conclusory, is not based on an examination of Sagastegui, and merely suggests the possibility that Sagastegui suffers from an undiagnosed mental illness which might render him incompetent. 54 Vargas's challenge to the fullness and fairness of the trial court hearings also fails. Although we do not rule out the possibility that a defendant's deception could undermine a trial court's finding of competence, Vargas's assertions are not sufficient to support such a holding here. Many of the experts who have examined Sagastegui have recognized that he is unreliable and/or deceitful during examinations. We decline, therefore, to conclude that all of the experts and the trial court were fooled into believing Sagastegui is competent because he lied to them in order to further a grand suicidal scheme. 55 Vargas does raise a troubling question about the possible withholding of relevant information from the trial court and examiners by the State. This is fairly speculative, however. The only report that Vargas is certain exists and was available to the State at the time of the trial court's hearing, but was not presented, is Dr. Grubb's report. The State states that it did not present that report to the trial court because Sagastegui exercised his privilege to prevent disclosure of the report. Given the overwhelming evidence of competence presented to the trial court, however, it is unlikely that Dr. Grubb's report would have changed the court's findings. We conclude Vargas has not rebutted the presumption of the correctness of the state court's findings from the March 1996 hearing. 56
57
58 The state trial court last found Sagastegui mentally competent following its March 11, 1996 hearing. Other than the determination following that hearing held over two-and-a-half years ago, no express judicial finding regarding Sagastegui's mental state has been made by any court. In its April 30, 1998 opinion affirming Sagastegui's sentence of death, the Washington Supreme Court limited its consideration to the correctness of the trial court's determinations and therefore only reviewed Sagastegui's past competence. Sagastegui, 954 P.2d at 1321-22. Subsequently, in its October 1, 1998 denial of Vargas's motion to participate as a next friend, the Washington Supreme Court made no findings, written or oral, as to Sagastegui's mental competency. The court held no hearing and denied Vargas's motion without comment. Although the court may have implicitly concluded that Sagastegui is currently competent, we have been presented with neither evidence to that effect nor authority to support presuming the correctness of such an implication. 4 59 An implied finding of a state appellate court that has not conducted an evidentiary hearing does not rise to the level of the state findings presumed correct in Whitmore, Baal, and Brewer. In Whitmore, the state trial court had conducted two full evidentiary hearings within the preceding two years, both of which were reviewed and affirmed by the state supreme court. 495 U.S. at 151-53, 110 S.Ct. 1717. The next friend petitioner initiated the federal habeas proceedings only three days after the last state supreme court decision. Id. at 153, 110 S.Ct. 1717. The next friend petitioner offered no evidence challenging the state court findings or demonstrating a change in the defendant's condition since the findings were made. Id. at 165-166, 110 S.Ct. 1717. 60 In Baal, the Supreme Court relied on findings made by the state court after a hearing held one week before the petitioners brought their federal petition. 495 U.S. at 732-33, 110 S.Ct. 2223. The state court expressly found that Baal was competent and had intelligently waived his right to pursue postconviction relief. Id. at 733, 110 S.Ct. 2223. The only new evidence introduced by the petitioners was the affidavit of a psychiatrist who had never examined Baal. Id. at 733-34, 110 S.Ct. 2223. Moreover, the psychiatrist's affidavit merely asserted that there is reason to believe that Baal was not competent. Id. at 735-36, 110 S.Ct. 2223. The district court concluded, and the Supreme Court agreed, that the affidavit was conclusory and lacking sufficient foundation or substance. Id. at 736, 110 S.Ct. 2223. 61 In Brewer, the trial court had held two full hearings as to Brewer's competence. 989 F.2d at 1022-24. In 1988, the court held a hearing to determine whether Brewer was competent to plead guilty. Id. at 1023. At this hearing the trial judge questioned Brewer and examined the reports of two psychiatrists. Id. The trial court expressly found Brewer competent and accepted his plea. Id. In November 1992, Brewer moved to dismiss his automatic post-conviction review. Id. The trial court held another hearing at which the judge questioned Brewer and determined that he was competent before granting Brewer's motion. Id. at 1024. Elsie Brewer, the defendant's mother, then filed her petition as Brewer's next friend. Id. In February, 1993, the district court concluded after a hearing that Elsie Brewer lacked standing. Id. 62 Only four months had passed between the full evidentiary hearing held by the state court and the review of Brewer's petition by the federal district court. Moreover, the contrast between the evidence before the Brewer court and the evidence Vargas presents here is striking. In Brewer we stated: 63 Here, petitioner has submitted brief affidavits of two doctors who have never met Brewer as well as an affidavit of Dr. Bayless, who examined Brewer and found him competent in 1988. Dr. Bayless speculates, based on information not available to him at that time, that Brewer's mental condition may have deteriorated during his incarceration, and that Brewer may now suffer from a major depressive disorder. As in Baal, this conclusory evidence is insufficient to outweigh the substantial evidence in the record demonstrating the defendant's competence. Within the last two and one-half months, no less than four psychological experts have personally examined and tested Brewer and found him competent. 64 Id. at 1026. 65
66 Vargas presents meaningful evidence that Sagastegui's mental condition has deteriorated since March 11, 1996. This evidence tends to prove that Sagastegui now suffers from mental illnesses that were not diagnosed at the time of the state court's findings, that he now requires medication he did not previously require, and that these illnesses and medications may substantially affect his present competency. 67 Conflicting testimony among Sagastegui's examiners since the last judicial finding of competency creates, rather than precludes, a substantial issue as to Sagastegui's current competency. On May 7, 1998, Dr. Page diagnosed Sagastegui as suffering from atypical psychosis and stated that Sagastegui could degenerate if taken off his current psychotropic regime of Thorazine and Depakote. Thorazine is a psychotropic drug with sedative effects and is indicated for management of manifestations of psychotic disorders, severe behavioral problems, and the manifestations of the manic type of bipolar illness. See Physician's Desk Reference 2116 (44th ed.1990). Depakote is an antiepiletic drug indicated for use as sole and adjunctive therapy in the treatment of simple (petit mal) and complex absence seizures. Id. at 515. Depakote may produce central nervous system depression and has sedative effects. Id. at 516. True, Dr. Harris, after examining Sagastegui on September 26, 1998, rejected any diagnosis of psychosis and concluded there was no evidence of decompensation by Sagastegui. Dr. Harris fails to explain, however, why Sagastegui is currently being prescribed doses of Thorazine and Depakote that make him sleep sixteen hours per day if he suffers from only an antisocial personality disorder. Moreover, Dr. Frankel's opinion tends to corroborate Dr. Page's conclusions and rebuts Dr. Harris's. 68 The State argues that Dr. Page could be correct that Sagastegui suffers from psychosis, but Sagastegui could still be competent. This is true. However, there is no evidence to support such a conclusion. Dr. Harris found Sagastegui competent, but based on the premise that he was not psychotic, not that he was psychotic but competent. Further, if Sagastegui suffers from psychosis and has a fragile grip on reality, as Dr. Page concludes, then he definitely suffers from a mental disease, disorder, or defect which may substantially affect his capacity. Rees, 384 U.S. at 314, 86 S.Ct. 1505 (emphasis added). This is undeniably meaningful evidence that Sagastegui is not competent. Again, as we stated earlier, the evidence presented by Vargas is new and meaningful when compared to the evidence in Whitmore, Baal, and Brewer. 69 Although we must accept the state court finding that Sagastegui was competent on and before March 11, 1996, the evidence Vargas presents from Dr. Grubb and from laypersons corroborates the new evidence of his current incompetence. This evidence strengthens Vargas's position in at least three relevant respects: (1) it helps to rebut Dr. Harris's conclusions; (2), without denying Sagastegui's earlier period of competence, it tends to prove that Sagastegui has had prior periods of more serious mental disease; and (3) it corroborates Dr. Page's findings of current serious mental illness. Moreover, the evidence alleging that Sagastegui has a suicidal wish to die seems at least partially linked to his psychosis, indicating that by reason of his mental illness he may not be capable of making a rational choice with respect to continuing or abandoning further litigation. Rees, 384 U.S. at 314, 86 S.Ct. 1505. 70