Opinion ID: 2627897
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Competency examination reports

Text: Having addressed our competency procedure, we turn now to the merits of these writ petitionsnamely, whether defense counsel is entitled to full and complete copies of the competency examination reports prior to the competency hearing held pursuant to NRS 178.415. Initially, we note that after a defendant has been found incompetent and received treatment, pursuant to NRS 178.455(3), full and complete copies of the competency examination reports must be sent to the district attorney and to the defense counsel prior to any further competency hearings. See NRS 178.455(3). Unfortunately, however, the statutory competency procedure set forth in NRS 178.415, which governs the district court's initial inquiry into a defendant's competence, is silent with respect to whether full and complete copies of the competency examination reports must be sent to counsel prior to the competency hearing. Nevertheless, we conclude that fundamental notions of due process demand that prior to a competency hearing held pursuant to NRS 178.415, the competency examination report must be forwarded to the court that ordered the examination, and the court must cause copies of the report to be delivered forthwith to the office of the district attorney and to defense counsel, or to the defendant personally if not represented by counsel. See Vitek v. Jones, 445 U.S. 480, 494-96, 100 S.Ct. 1254, 63 L.Ed.2d 552 (1980) (concluding that notice of the competency hearing was essential to afford the defendant an opportunity to challenge the contemplated action and to understand the nature of what is happening to him); see also Wolff v. McDonnell, 418 U.S. 539, 564, 94 S.Ct. 2963, 41 L.Ed.2d 935 (1974) (concluding that the function of the notice requirement is to afford the defendant an opportunity to marshal the facts and to prepare a response). The United States and Nevada Constitutions provide that no person shall be deprived of liberty without due process of law. U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 1; Nev. Const. art. 1, § 8(5). The Due Process Clause requires notice and an opportunity to be heard before the government deprives a person of his or her [liberty]. Maiola v. State, 120 Nev. 671, 675, 99 P.3d 227, 229 (2004). Commitment to a psychiatric facility constitutes a deprivation of liberty, regardless of whether the commitment occurs as a result of a court order or referral, or an involuntary commitment proceeding. See Maniccia v. State, 931 So.2d 1027, 1029-30 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.2006). Consequently, our statutory competency proceedings must afford the defendant with proper notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard. In this case, defense counsel for the petitioners submitted a request to receive full and complete copies of the competency examination reports prior to a competency hearing held pursuant to NRS 178.415. Department 5 denied defense counsel's request for full and complete copies of the competency examination reports prior to the competency hearing. By denying defense counsel's request for full and complete copies of the competency examination reports prior to the competency hearing, Department 5 denied the petitioners a meaningful opportunity to be heard. Accordingly, we conclude that prior to a competency hearing held pursuant to NRS 178.415, the court that ordered the examination shall cause full and complete copies of the competency examination reports to be delivered forthwith to the office of the district attorney and to defense counsel, or the defendant personally if not represented by counsel. By providing counsel for both sides with full and complete copies of the competency examination reports, the prosecuting attorney and the defense counsel will be afforded a meaningful opportunity to be heard during the competency hearing.