Opinion ID: 3009731
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Charles' Competency

Text: At the outset of the hearing on September 26, the day before the trial began, the district court determined that Charles was competent to stand trial and thus to make all of the important decisions associated with trial. That decision was not clearly erroneous. The district court based its finding of competence on the testimony and conduct of Charles at the September 26, 1994 hearing and on a July 11, 1994 report written by Dr. Burger. Dr. Burger saw Charles on a regular basis during his prior hospitalization and after he was readmitted for study on June 14, 1994. Dr. Burger concluded that Charles was capable of understanding the proceedings and the charges against him and had the ability to consult meaningfully with his counsel. Dr. Burger's report indicated that Charles evidenced an excellent understanding of the roles and responsibilities of court officers as well as his own obligations and rights in a court situation. 8 (App. at 145.) He was alert and fully oriented at all times. His cognitive abilities were in the low average range for an adult. Charles suffered from chronic paranoid schizophrenia and had experienced intermittent severe psychotic episodes in the past, but his schizophrenia was currently in remission. Charles showed no symptoms of schizophrenia and was not taking medication. When the district court asked each side whether it wished to contest the conclusions reached in Dr. Burger's report, neither Charles nor his counsel sought to do so. We are mindful that Dr. Burger's report was two and one half months old when the September 26, 1994 hearing took place and that some of Charles' responses at the hearing were rambling.2 We cannot say, however, that Charles' responses as a 2 For example: THE COURT: Now, why do you think you are more competent than counsel . . . ? CHARLES: Your Honor, you might think I'm incompetent, if I tell you that. THE COURT: Pardon? CHARLES: I said, for what I might say to you, right, you might consider me incompetent. THE COURT: I didn't say that. I said, why do you think you are more competent than counsel. CHARLES: I said, my answer to you would maybe make you think that I am incompetent. THE COURT: Well, let me hear your answer. CHARLES: Well, your Honor, growing up, my family, and there was, you know, fightings and things like that, where people of Mr. Brusch's descendants -- once a fourteen year old child or a sixteen year old child fight with my mother's husband, and no one tried to assist us, call the police, do anything, which in they were also the ones removed the gun from the place. So I don't, I don't know for sure what I am going through, what I am going through, and why Mr. Brusch is not in favor of me exposing all of these things that 9 whole were inconsistent with Dr. Burger's observations and opinions. The district court observed Charles first-hand at the hearing the day before the trial began and was in the best position to observe Charles, evaluate his mental state, and determine whether a follow-up evaluation was necessary. We decline to second guess the district court's determination.