Opinion ID: 1125010
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Cellier's Competency to Stand Trial

Text: Using the proper burden of proof and evidentiary standard, the trial court held a competency hearing and found that Cellier was competent to stand trial. Cellier appeals this finding. A defendant is incompetent if the defendant cannot understand the court proceedings or assist counsel with a defense. K.S.A. 22-3301. According to Cellier, to be able to assist counsel, a defendant should have the ability to communicate rationally, to recall and relate facts concerning his actions, to comprehend advice, and to make decisions based on a well-explained alternative. See 2 ABA Standards for Criminal Justice § 7-4.1, Commentary, p. 7-173 (2d ed. 1980). Since Cellier does not have these abilities, he claims that he was incompetent to stand trial. The only evidence presented at the competency hearing was the testimony of Drs. Dixon and Imperial, both of whom evaluated Cellier while he was a patient at the Larned State Security Hospital. Both Drs. Dixon and Imperial opined that Cellier could assist in his own defense. Both experts were medically trained to draw such conclusions. The trial court relied heavily on the testimony of these medical experts. The trial court also viewed Cellier in person at the competency hearing. From this evidence, the trial court ruled that Cellier was competent to stand trial. We find no error in this determination. This issue fails.