Opinion ID: 1697961
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Mental Competence

Text: Nixon's next allegation involves his claim that he was incompetent to stand trial. He also alleges that he is mentally retarded and suffers from organic personality disorder. [11] He bases these allegations primarily on the fact that during the trial he acted bizarre, in that he disrobed down to his underwear (not in the presence of the jury), demanded a black judge and a black attorney, and refused to return to the courtroom. After conducting a hearing in the holding cell on Nixon's continued refusal to return to the courtroom, the trial court informed Nixon that his failure to return to court that afternoon would result in a finding that he had knowingly, voluntarily, and intelligently waived his right to be present during the trial. When Nixon refused to come to the courtroom during the afternoon, the trial court made the finding of voluntary waiver of attendance, and the trial continued in his absence. On direct appeal, this Court addressed the issue of voluntariness and said that a defendant can waive his right to be present at any stage of a capital trial if he personally and voluntarily absents himself. After reciting the factual circumstances of Nixon's absence, we found no error in the trial court's decision to conduct the trial in Nixon's absence. See Nixon I, 572 So.2d at 1341-42. Based on the same facts, Nixon now raises essentially the same issue under the guise that the trial court erred by not sua sponte ordering a competency determination and trial counsel was ineffective in not requesting a competency determination. Nixon has failed to demonstrate error by the trial court or trial counsel. First, it must be noted that the trial judge was familiar with this defendant because he had presided over a competency hearing concerning the defendant in another case, and the defendant was determined to be competent in that proceeding. The competency hearing in the prior case took place a short time before the trial court proceedings in this case. The trial judge knew that in the earlier case, Nixon had threatened to disrupt the courtroom. Nixon was again threatening to disrupt the proceedings. These actions did not require the trial court to have Nixon examined for competency. Second, trial counsel had no reason to request a competency determination. Nixon had been examined by a mental health expert who did not give trial counsel any reason to delve further into competency. In fact, trial counsel indicated that had he been aware of any basis, he would have filed a motion for a competency evaluation. In Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68, 82, 105 S.Ct. 1087, 84 L.Ed.2d 53 (1985), the United States Supreme Court said, A defendant's mental condition is not necessarily at issue in every criminal proceeding. . . . When there is no reason to suspect that a defendant is incompetent, it cannot be deficient performance if counsel does not request a competency examination. See, e.g., Mills v. State, 603 So.2d 482, 485 (Fla.1992) (finding no deficient performance where counsel had no reason to believe that mental mitigation could be developed). Thus, the record does not support Nixon's claim that trial counsel erred in failing to request a competency determination.