Opinion ID: 2068009
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Dr. Mechanick's psychiatric examination in Maryland.

Text: The Sixth Amendment, applied to the States through the Fourteenth Amendment, provides that [i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall ... have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense. [24] The accused's right to counsel attaches when the adversarial judicial proceedings are commenced and continues throughout all critical stages of the proceedings, [25] including the deliberate elicitation by law enforcement officers (and their agents) of statements pertaining to the charge. [26] Therefore, the examination of an accused by a psychiatrist arranged by the State is considered a critical stage which implicates the Sixth Amendment. [27] Although there is no constitutional right to have counsel present during such an examination, counsel must be given advance notice of its nature and scope, as well as an opportunity to consult with the accused. [28] At the time the State sent Dr. Mechanick to examine Norman, Norman had been indicted in Delaware. Consequently, the judicial proceedings against Norman in Delaware had commenced and Norman's right to counsel had attached. Although Norman had not yet been appointed counsel, we agree with the Superior Court's conclusion that the State should have put the Court on notice of its desire to participate in the evaluation [of Norman] with Maryland. Because it did not do so, the court properly found that the State did violate [Norman's] Sixth Amendment right to counsel [when it] jumped the gun in its participation with the Maryland prosecutor in obtaining [Dr. Mechanick's] report. [29]