Opinion ID: 1472552
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: waiver of competency hearing

Text: On November 7, 1995, Mills filed notice of his intention to introduce evidence concerning mental illness, insanity, or mental defect pursuant to KRS 504.070. One month later, the trial court entered an order of psychiatric evaluation which required a psychiatric examination to determine whether Mills was: (1) incompetent to stand trial as defined by KRS 504.060(4); and (2) insane as defined by KRS 504.060(5). Mills was examined by KCPC psychiatrist Dr. Steven J. Simon, who determined that he was able to understand the nature of the proceedings against him and assist in his own defense. At a pre-trial hearing on August 2, 1996, the Commonwealth moved the trial court to set a hearing to determine Mills' competency to stand trial. After a lengthy discussion concerning competency, defense counsel stated that competency was not an issue and waived the hearing. On appeal, Mills argues that a competency hearing pursuant to KRS 504.100(3) is mandatory and cannot be waived by a defendant. Criminal prosecution of a defendant who is incompetent to stand trial is a violation of due process of law under the Fourteenth Amendment. Medina v. California, 505 U.S. 437, 439, 112 S.Ct. 2572, 2574, 120 L.Ed.2d 353 (1992). Further, once facts known to a trial court are sufficient to place a defendant's competence to stand trial in question, the trial court must hold an evidentiary hearing to determine the question. See Drope v. Missouri, 420 U.S. 162, 180, 95 S.Ct. 896, 908, 43 L.Ed.2d 103 (1975); Pate v. Robinson, 383 U.S. 375, 385-86, 86 S.Ct. 836, 842, 15 L.Ed.2d 815 (1966). Evidence of a defendant's irrational behavior, his demeanor in court, and any prior medical opinion on competence to stand trial are all relevant facts for a court to consider. Drope, 420 U.S. at 180, 95 S.Ct. at 908. KRS 504.100 is entirely consistent with these constitutional requirements. KRS 504.100(1) requires a court to appoint a psychologist or psychiatrist to examine, treat and report on the defendant's mental condition whenever the court has reasonable grounds to believe that the defendant is incompetent to stand trial. KRS 504.100(3) states that after such a report is filed, the court shall hold a hearing to determine whether the defendant is competent to stand trial. Section (3) is clearly mandatory. Moreover, United States Supreme Court decisions indicate strongly that a defendant cannot waive a competency hearing. See Pate, 383 U.S. at 384, 86 S.Ct. at 841; Medina, 505 U.S. at 449-50, 112 S.Ct. at 2579. The competency hearing of KRS 504.100(3) is mandatory and cannot be waived by a defendant. The standard of review in such a case is, Whether a reasonable judge, situated as was the trial court judge whose failure to conduct an evidentiary hearing is being reviewed, should have experienced doubt with respect to competency to stand trial. Williams v. Bordenkircher, 696 F.2d 464, 467 (6th Cir.1983), cert. denied, 461 U.S. 916, 103 S.Ct. 1898, 77 L.Ed.2d 287 (1983). On appeal, Mills relies on his psychiatric report to show that he was incompetent to stand trial. However, the report specifically concluded that Mills was competent to stand trial. Thus, the report does not support Mills' argument on appeal. Mills points to nothing else that should have caused the trial court to question his competency to stand trial. Finally, it is clear from the record that the trial judge did not order the psychiatric examination due to a belief that there were reasonable grounds to question Mills' competency to stand trial. Rather, the trial court merely ordered the examination out of expediency in response to Mills' notice of November 7, 1995. Thus, upon review of the record, we conclude that Mills has failed to establish any factual basis which should have caused the trial court to experience reasonable doubt as to Mills' competence to stand trial. Therefore, we hold that it was harmless error for the trial court to allow Mills to waive the mandatory competency hearing of KRS 504.100(3).