Opinion ID: 1439931
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: failure to adjudicate clayton's competency

Text: Clayton's attorney was not ineffective for failing to adjudicate his competency. Counsel has no duty to investigate a client's mental condition where the client appears to have the present ability to consult rationally with the attorney and understand the court proceedings. Richardson, 923 S.W.2d at 328. In this case, Clayton's attorney had extensive prior involvement with him before this case ever arose. From the fact that Clayton was able to intelligently discuss his legal options with his attorney, and even carry on correspondence with him about the case, the attorney could reasonably conclude that he was competent to stand trial. Clayton has also failed to demonstrate that he was actually incompetent during his trial. The trial court did not find Dr. Daniel Foster, the only expert to testify that Clayton was incompetent, credible. Trial courts have a superior opportunity to judge the credibility of witnesses, and this Court will defer to a trial court's credibility determination even on an expert witness. State v. Simmons, 955 S.W.2d 752, 773 (Mo. banc 1997). In this case, Dr. Foster's determination is especially questionable because even though he said Clayton was incompetent at the time of his trial, he admitted that Clayton understood the role of the prosecutor, the judge, the juror, and even his own attorney in the process. He further stated that Clayton knew what he was charged with, that he was facing the death penalty, and that he was able to discuss his various options with his attorney. Dr. Foster's testimony is further undermined by the fact he examined Clayton for the first time years after the original trial occurred. The judge, who had also presided during Clayton's trial, had more than a reasonable basis to concluded that Dr. Foster's testimony was not credible and that Clayton was competent at the time of his trial.