Opinion ID: 199401
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Federal District Court Opinion

Text: 15 The district court granted Johnson's petition, concluding that despite the state court's determination that Johnson was competent to continue with trial on the second day, sufficient doubt existed as to Johnson's competency during jury selection to warrant a competency hearing. In particular, the court noted that at the start of the first day of trial, the state trial judge was aware that Johnson had suffered a head injury. Johnson, No. 99-11249 at 9. The state court was also informed of Johnson's subsequent fainting and vomiting after he was taken to the holding cell. Id. Finally, the state court received the examining nurse's diagnosis of a possible concussion and the need for x-rays and further medical attention. Id. Taken together, a substantial body of evidence on the first day of trial cast doubt on Johnson's ability to understand the proceedings against him. Id. (emphasis added). The federal district court added that neither the nurse's report concerning Johnson's condition the following day nor the state court's sua sponte observations of Johnson's demeanor were adequate substitutes for an evidentiary hearing. Id. at 10.