Opinion ID: 1557127
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Whether the Trial Court Erred by Failing to Order a Mental Examination.

Text: ¶ 25. Parker further avers that the trial court erred by failing to order a competency hearing at trial. Parker implies, but does not specifically state, that he is entitled to a new trial, or at least a competency hearing, because the trial testimony indicated that there was an issue of the defendant's competency at the time of the alleged crime. Parker argues that the trial court never raised an issue of competency or confirmed Parker's competency as he believes the law requires, citing Mississippi Uniform Circuit and County Court Rule 9.06 as support. [4] ¶ 26. The determination of whether there are reasonable grounds for a competency test is discretionary with the court. Conner v. State, 632 So.2d 1239, 1248 (Miss.1993) overruled on other grounds by Weatherspoon v. State, 732 So.2d 158, 162 (Miss.1999). The test for competency to stand trial and thereby whether reasonable grounds exist is whether the defendant has `sufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding' and has a rational as well as factual understanding of the proceedings against him. Dunn v. State, 693 So.2d 1333, 1340 (Miss.1997) (quoting Godinez v. Moran, 509 U.S. 389, 113 S.Ct. 2680, 125 L.Ed.2d 321(1993)). ¶ 27. We find that Parker's argument is fatally flawed in two ways. First, Parker alleges that there were issues surrounding his competency at the time of the crime, and not at the time of trial, as the rule requires. See Miss. Unif. Cir. & Cty. R. 9.06. Since Parker avers on appeal that he was allegedly incompetent at the time of the crime, an insanity defense would have been more appropriate. [5] ¶ 28. Second, Parker's argument fails because he claims, incorrectly, that the rule required the trial court to bring forth the issue on its own motion. The rule, however, provides that the court must order a mental examination by some competent psychiatrist only if it has reasonable grounds to do so. Miss. Unif. Cir. & Cty. R. 9.06. Thus, if reasonable grounds exist, the rule requires that the court order the defendant to submit to a mental examination, and after such examination, then the court shall conduct a hearing to determine if the defendant is competent to stand trial. The trial court may raise the issue of competency to stand trial sua sponte or an attorney may make a motion concerning the defendant's ability to stand trial. Miss. Unif. Cir. & Cty. R. 9.06. Here, Parker fails to present any facts on appeal that the trial court had reasonable grounds to order Parker to submit to a mental examination; further, the record lacks any evidence to show that Parker's counsel raised the issue of his competency to stand trial. Thus, after a thorough review of the record, this Court finds that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by failing to order a mental examination, as it had no reasonable grounds to do so.