Opinion ID: 1256951
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Proceedings to Determine Present Sanity

Text: Defendant contends that in the 1368 proceedings it was error (1) not to try that issue before the same judge who had declared the doubt as to his sanity; (2) for the court not to advise him that in that proceeding he had a right to a jury trial; and (3) that the court's finding of present sanity is unsupported. These contentions lack merit. [1] Section 1368 does not require the present sanity hearing to be held before the same judge that declared the existence of a doubt as to the accused's competence to stand trial. The section states that the sanity issue should be determined by the court, unless a jury is demanded. [2] There is only one superior court in Los Angeles County (Cal. Const., art. VI, § 4; White v. Superior Court, 110 Cal. 60, 67 [42 P. 480]; Brown v. Campbell, 110 Cal. 644, 648 [43 P. 12]; Tubby v. Tubby, 202 Cal. 272, 276 [260 P. 294]), and defendant's present sanity hearing was held in this court. The Rules of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County (1967) provide that all Hearings on questions of sanity under Section 1368 ... of the Penal Code be assigned to Department 95, the psychiatric department. (Rule 4, § 12, subd. (c).) We have previously given approval to the transfer of section 1368 matters to the psychiatric department of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. ( People v. Westbrook, 62 Cal.2d 197, 204 [41 Cal. Rptr. 809, 397 P.2d 545]; see also In re Hedberg, 232 Cal. App.2d 728, 731 [43 Cal. Rptr. 193].) [2] Defendant urges that he was entitled to a jury trial on the issue of his present sanity, and that such right was not waived by him. In the first place a 1368 hearing is not within the scope of article I, section 7, of the California Constitution, precluding a waiver in criminal cases unless the defendant and his attorney concur. A 1368 hearing is a special proceeding. [3] [3] The only right to a jury trial in a special proceeding collateral to the criminal trial is that provided by statute. But defendant contends that since he was entitled to a jury trial, upon demand, the judge should have advised him of that right. Section 1368 imposes no such duty on the judge. The defendant was represented by counsel. Unless the statute expressly so directs, there is no duty in a judge to advise a defendant of his statutory rights where he is represented by counsel. [4] Except where representation by counsel is so ineffective that it can be described as a farce or a sham ( People v. Ibarra, 60 Cal.2d 460, 464 [34 Cal. Rptr. 863, 386 P.2d 487]; People v. Wein, 50 Cal.2d 383, 410 [326 P.2d 457]; People v. Gutkowsky, 219 Cal. App.2d 223, 227 [33 Cal. Rptr. 79]), an attorney may ordinarily waive his client's rights ( Henry v. Mississippi, 379 U.S. 443, 451 [13 L.Ed.2d 408, 85 S.Ct. 564]) as to matters of trial tactics and `control the court proceedings' ( People v. Merkouris, 46 Cal.2d 540, 554 [297 P.2d 999]; People v. Bourland, 247 Cal. App.2d 76, 83 [55 Cal. Rptr. 357]). [5]). [5] [See fn. 4] Ordinarily, counsel need not inform his client of a particular right prior to waiving it for him. (See People v. Kramer, 227 Cal. App.2d 199, 201 [38 Cal. Rptr. 487].) [4] [6] Although counsel at the present sanity hearing called no witnesses, presented no evidence, did not seek to cross-examine Drs. Tweed and Davis, and apparently did not inform defendant of his right to demand a jury trial, we cannot hold that such representation was a farce or a sham under the particular circumstances. The strongly worded reports of Drs. Davis and Tweed apprised defense counsel that the deputy public defender's own doubts about Hill's mental competence were not borne out by any medical facts. [5] There just was no substantial evidence upon which defendant's counsel could have argued that his client was insane. It was, therefore, not improper for defense counsel not to contest the sanity issue. Defendant's contention that there was insufficient evidence to support the finding in Department 95 that he was mentally competent to stand trial rests solely on Dusky v. United States, 362 U.S. 402 [4 L.Ed.2d 824, 80 S.Ct. 788] (per curiam). But Dusky is readily distinguishable. It concerned only implementation of the federal statute providing for present sanity hearings (18 U.S.C.A. § 4244). [7, 8] Furthermore, there was more specific evidence of mental competence presented to the court in the instant case than in Dusky. [6] We hold that the reports of Drs. Davis and Tweed were clearly sufficient evidence of sanity to resolve the doubt expressed by the guilt trial judge. [9] We have laid down no specific rules to control hearings conducted under section 1368 but have instead imposed the requirement that the accused be afforded all of the elements of due process. ( People v. Westbrook, supra, 62 Cal.2d 197, 204, followed in In re Hedberg, supra, 232 Cal. App.2d 728, 731.) This requirement was met in the instant case where the indigent defendant was provided with two psychiatric examinations, counsel to represent him at the special hearing, and the opportunity to present evidence. There is nothing in the record to indicate that a jury trial would not have been provided upon demand as expressly required by section 1368. [7] [10] Defendant also contends that Judge Farley should have declared a doubt as to defendant's sanity when criminal proceedings were resumed after the hearing in Department 95. The contention is totally without merit. Judge Olson's previously expressed doubt had just been resolved in Department 95 by a finding that defendant was competent to stand trial. No new evidence of insanity was presented to Judge Farley, let alone the substantial evidence of incompetence that must appear in the record before the court's failure to order a sanity hearing may be urged as error. ( People v. Pennington, supra, 66 Cal.2d 508, 519.)