Opinion ID: 2277667
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Preliminary Order, Appointment of Expert, and Mental Evaluation

Text: Again, we emphasize that the trial court shall file a preliminary order within four days from the filing of the State's response to the petition. If the trial court determines that the prisoner has failed to meet the required threshold showing, the trial court shall enter an order denying the petition, which shall include written detailed findings of fact and conclusions of law. The prisoner may appeal the trial court's denial of the petition pursuant to the procedure set out hereafter in Section G, Appellate Review. If, however, the trial court determines that the prisoner has satisfied the required threshold showing, the trial court shall enter an order appointing at least one, but no more than two, mental health professionals from each list submitted by the respective parties. The order shall direct that the prisoner be evaluated by the appointed mental health professionals to determine competency to be executed as defined herein. The order shall also require the mental health professionals to file written evaluations with the trial court within ten days of the appointment. Upon filing, the trial court clerk shall forward a copy of the written evaluations to counsel for the petitioner, the district attorney general, and the State Attorney General. [14] See Tenn. R. Evid. 706 (stating that as to bench-tried issues, the court may on its own motion or on motion of any party appoint expert witnesses agreed upon by the parties); cf. Ariz.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 13-4022(c) (West Supp.1998); Fla. R.Crim. P. 3.812(c)(2) (West.Supp.1999); Kan. Stat. Ann. § 22-4006(b) (1995); Ky.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 431.2135(2) (Michie Supp.1998); Tex.Crim. P.Code Ann. art. 46.04(f) (West Supp.1999); Wyo. Stat. § 7-13-902(a)-(c) (Michie 1999) (stating that courts have the power to appoint experts, order evaluations, and require that the evaluations be filed in a short period of time when competency to be executed is raised as an issue). Within ten days after the evaluations are filed, the trial court shall hold and conclude a hearing to determine the issue of competency. No jury is involved and the trial judge alone shall determine the issue of competency. We disagree with the dissent's assertion that a prisoner is entitled to have a jury determine the issue of competency to be executed. Even at common law, a prisoner had no absolute right to a jury trial on this issue, although the trial court at common law had the discretion to impanel a jury. See Nobles, 168 U.S. at 407, 18 S.Ct. at 91; Jordan, 124 Tenn. at 90-91, 135 S.W. at 330. Under existing Tennessee law, a judge rather than a jury determines the closely analogous question of competency to stand trial. State v. Johnson, 673 S.W.2d 877, 880 (Tenn.Crim.App.1984) (stating that trial judge alone decides competence to stand trial). Accordingly, in light of the vast changes that have occurred in the legal landscape since the adoption of the common law rule and in light of analogous, existing Tennessee law regarding competency to stand trial, we have no hesitation in holding that a prisoner is not entitled to have a jury determine the issue of competency to be executed. Exhaustive research reveals that the vast majority of jurisdictions apply a similar rule either by statute or case law. See, e.g., Ariz.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 13-4022(F) (West Supp.1998); Fla. R.Crim. P. 3.811(d)(1) (West Supp.1999); Ga.Code Ann. § 17-10-68(d) (1997); Kan. Stat. Ann. § 22-4006(b) (1995); Ky.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 431.2135(2) (Michie Supp.1998); Md. Ann.Code, Correctional Services § 3-904(e)(1) (1999); Mo.Rev.Stat. § 552.06(4) (Supp.1999); Ohio Rev.Code Ann. § 2949.28(B)(1)(b)(2) (Anderson Supp.1998); Tex.Crim. Proc.Code Ann. art. 46.04(k) (West 1999); Wyo. Stat. § 7-13-902(f) (Michie 1999); Singleton, 437 S.E.2d at 59; Harris, 789 P.2d at 72 (requiring that the court hold a hearing and determine the issue without a jury). Indeed, only three jurisdictions appear to adopt the position advocated by the dissent and require or allow a jury to determine the issue of competency to be executed. See Ala.Code § 15-16-23 (1995); Cal.Penal Code § 3701 (West 1982); Okla Stat. Ann. tit. 22, § 1005 (West 1999). We also note that none of the various opinions in Ford held that a jury determination of the issue of competency to be executed is constitutionally required. See Ford, 477 U.S. at 418, 106 S.Ct. at 2606 (plurality opinion) (petitioner is entitled to an evidentiary hearing in the District Court, de novo, on the question of his competence to be executed.); Ford, 477 U.S. at 427, 106 S.Ct. at 2610 (Powell, J., concurring) ([A] constitutionally acceptable procedure may be far less formal than a trial. The State should provide an impartial officer or board that can receive evidence and argument from the prisoner's counsel....); Ford, 477 U.S. at 429, 106 S.Ct. at 2611-12 (O'Connor, J., concurring in the result in part and dissenting in part) (I consider it self-evident that once society has validly convicted an individual of a crime and therefore established its right to punish, the demands of due process are reduced accordingly.). At the outset we note that at the hearing the prisoner is presumed to be competent to be executed. Ford, 477 U.S. at 426, 106 S.Ct. at 2610 (Powell, J., concurring); Harris, 789 P.2d at 67; see also Ariz.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 13-4022(E) (West Supp.1998); Ohio Rev.Code Ann. § 2949.29(c) (Anderson Supp.1998) (stating that a prisoner is presumed to be competent). To prevail, the prisoner must overcome the presumption of competency by a preponderance of the evidence. Cf. Colo.Rev.Stat.§ 16-8-111(2) (1999); Ky.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 431.2135(3) (Michie Supp.1998); Md.Code Ann. Correctional Services § 3-904(e)(2)(iii) (1999); Billiot v. State, 655 So.2d 1, 12 (Miss.1995); Singleton, 437 S.E.2d at 60; Tex.Crim. P.Code Ann. art. 46.04(k) (West Supp.1999). [15] We emphasize that the strictures of due process must be observed at the hearing. Ford, 477 U.S. at 414, 106 S.Ct. at 2604 (plurality opinion). As an initial matter, the prisoner must be given notice that an evidentiary hearing will be held. Harris, 789 P.2d at 71. Next, the prisoner must be afforded an opportunity to be heard and to present evidence relevant to the issue of competency at an adversarial proceeding at which the prisoner is entitled to cross-examine the State's witnesses. See Ford, 477 U.S. at 413-16, 106 S.Ct. at 2603-05 (plurality opinion); Harris, 789 P.2d at 71. Any procedure that unreasonably precludes the prisoner from attending and presenting material relevant to [the question of] his sanity or bars consideration of that material by the fact-finder is necessarily inadequate. Ford, 477 U.S. at 414, 106 S.Ct. at 2604 (plurality opinion). Therefore, the rules of evidence should not be applied to limit the admissibility of reliable evidence that is relevant to the issue of the prisoner's competency. Cf. Tenn.Code Ann. § 39-13-204(c) (Supp.1999) (directing that the rules of evidence do not limit the admissibility of evidence at capital sentencing hearings); see also Fla. R.Crim. P. 3.812(d) (West Supp.1999) (stating that the court shall not be strictly bound by the rules of evidence at a competency hearing). In sum, we hold that the prisoner shall be given reasonable notice if an evidentiary hearing is to be held and that the prisoner shall be present at the hearing. The prisoner is presumed competent and, to prevail, must overcome the presumption by a preponderance of the evidence. The hearing shall be adversarial in nature, and the prisoner shall be allowed to present all evidence material and relevant to the issue of competency. See Harris, 789 P.2d at 72.