Opinion ID: 1561133
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Competency and Mental Health

Text: It is axiomatic that federal and state law prevent the trial of an incompetent defendant. KRS 504.090; RCr 8.06. If there are reasonable grounds to believe that a defendant is not competent to stand trial, the proceeding must be discontinued and the trial judge must appoint a psychologist or psychiatrist to examine the defendant, file a report and then a hearing must be held. KRS 504.100. Here, at the RCr 11.42 hearing, trial counsel testified that Foley assisted him in his defense and that they worked very closely. The attorney further testified that he did not remember anything that made him think Foley was incompetent during trial and that Foley seemed lucid and was able to converse with him and others. Foley testified in his own defense for over one and one-half hours. The trial judge had the opportunity to observe that Foley was able to communicate effectively his version of the offense and was able to answer questions both on direct and cross-examination. Foley did not testify at his RCr 11.42 hearing. No medical proof of any mental history was offered to support the claim of incompetency. The only evidence introduced indicating any bizarre behavior were letters supposedly written by Foley to his deceased grandmother shortly before trial. Although family members spoke of various head injuries suffered by Foley during childhood, no medical records were presented to support such testimony. Trial counsel testified at the RCr 11.42 hearing that he saw no signs of mental illness and that he had no problem communicating with Foley before and during the trial, and that Foley maintained his own trial folder and discussed it intelligently with counsel. There was no evidence that Foley was incompetent. The authorities cited by Foley are unpersuasive. Trial counsel was not ineffective for declining to request a competency hearing.