Opinion ID: 822821
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Competency at Resentencing

Text: Bankoff further argues that the District Court erred by finding him competent to proceed to resentencing.1 We review the District Court’s ruling on the necessity of a competency hearing de novo and its factual findings regarding competency for clear error. United States v. Leggett, 162 F.3d 237, 241 (3d Cir. 1998). A criminal defendant shall be subjected to a competency hearing “if there is reasonable cause to believe that 1 Bankoff also claims that the District Court erred by allowing him to represent himself at resentencing when he had not requested to do so. That claim is clearly belied by the record, which shows that Bankoff repeatedly asked to represent himself, and thus we decline to address it. 5 the defendant may presently be suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him or to assist properly in his defense.” 18 U.S.C. § 4241(a). In this fact-intensive inquiry, the District Court considers a number of factors, including “evidence of a defendant’s irrational behavior, his demeanor at trial, and any prior medical opinion on competence to stand trial.” Leggett, 162 F.3d at 242. It is clear from the record that the District Court did not err in determining that Bankoff was competent to proceed with resentencing. The District Court was already familiar with the numerous materials presented at the prior competency hearing, during which it found Bankoff competent to stand trial. In preparation for the hearing on October 27, 2011, the District Court reviewed recent psychological reports prepared by the Bureau of Prisons staff, which stated that Bankoff’s current mental status and behavior did not suggest significant mental health problems. During the hearing, the District Court conducted a lengthy colloquy with Bankoff, who correctly and intelligently answered questions about the proceedings, presented coherent and logical arguments regarding his motion for judgment of acquittal and in favor of a more lenient sentence, and corrected the District Court when it mistakenly identified the prosecutor at trial as the defense counsel. The District Court thus properly concluded that Bankoff was “very competent” and demonstrated a “very high degree of knowledge” about the proceedings. 6