Opinion ID: 1768435
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Whether counsel failed to investigate client's competency.

Text: ¶ 44. Goodin argues that when counsel had Mr. Gooden examined for competency to stand trial, the evaluator failed to take into account Mr. Gooden's long-standing history of mental illness and dismissed his claims about hallucinations, finding him competent. It is unlikely that Mr. Gooden would even have been found competent to stand trial had counsel done their job. Goodin's argument here is similar to his argument under 6.B., but this argument also calls into question the nature of the process of determining a defendant's competency to stand trial and the defense counsel's role in that process. First, defense counsel did not have Goodin examined; the circuit court did. Defense counsel did not, as far as this Court can tell, select Dr. O'Brien. It is unknown whether defense counsel did have or could have had any input into Dr. O'Brien's decision on competency. It is also unknown whether Dr. O'Brien would have considered any findings by any other doctors in making his decision. He says now that he would have. If defense counsel had evidence contrary to Dr. O'Brien's conclusions, it would have been advisable to present those to the circuit court so they could have been considered. Defense counsel now states in an affidavit that he would have done this but did not have the time or resources. ¶ 45. What is known is that defense counsel did not object to Dr. O'Brien's conclusions as incorrect and did not object to the circuit court's finding of Goodin as competent. Any attempt to raise the circuit court's finding of competency as erroneous, as Goodin does, is procedurally barred at this point. Only because this issue is so closely related to the issue of Goodin's mental illness, this Court finds that Goodin be granted leave to proceed in the trial court on this particular issue.