Opinion ID: 1747978
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Timing and Sufficiency of Pre-Trial Hearing

Text: The trial court is required to initiate proceedings to investigate the competency of a defendant whenever a reasonable judge in the same situation as the trial judge would experience doubt about the defendant's competency to stand trial. State v. Johns, 34 S.W.3d 93, 104 (Mo. banc 2000); see also section 552.020.2. The record shows that that was done in this case. The trial court ordered two mental examinations of Appellant, the first of which was ordered only 12 days after Appellant filed a motion alleging he was incompetent. Subsequently, the trial court held a pretrial hearing on the issue of Appellant's competency. Appellant did not present any witnesses at the hearing, but asked for the court to decide the issue based on the reports of Dr. English that had been formally filed with the court, and on the reports and other matters from Dr. Pincus and Dr. Lewis that had been previously submitted to the court but not formally filed. See section 552.020.7. After reviewing the evidence that was presented, the trial court ruled that Appellant was competent to proceed with trial. [5] The trial court followed the procedures required by section 552.020, and provided Appellant with a timely and adequate opportunity to present the issue of his alleged incompetence.