Opinion ID: 772210
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Defendant's Objection to Competency Examination

Text: 39 Defendant next contends that because he objected to his lawyer's motion that he undergo a mental competency examination, any time associated with the mental competency examination should not be excluded from the calculation of the seventy-day period for purposes of determining whether a Speedy Trial Act violation occurred. In United States v. Antwine, 873 F.2d 1144, 1149 n.9 (8th Cir. 1989), the court noted that a defendant's disagreement with his defense counsel's decision to file a motion for a competency examination did not affect computations calculated under the Speedy Trial Act. The Eighth Circuit also noted that the district court's decision to order a mental competency examination was based on the personal observations of the district court. Id. Moreover, a defendant may not complain of delays occasioned by the trial court's attempt to protect his interests. Id. at 1150. 40 Here, the district court held a hearing on July 9, 1998, at which evidence was presented in support of the motion for a mental competency examination by defense counsel and a Deputy United States Marshal. Additionally, the magistrate judge conducted a hearing with Defendant outside the presence of counsel for the government. On July 13, 1998, the magistrate judge entered an order finding that there is reasonable cause to believe that the defendant may presently be suffering from a mental disease or defect that renders him mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to assist properly in his defense. (J.A. at 22.) The analysis of our sister circuit's decision in Antwine is logical and sound; therefore, we conclude that Defendant cannot rely on an alleged disagreement with his attorney regarding the efficacy of a mental competency exam, which is ultimately conducted in his best interest, to later challenge his indictment under the Speedy Trial Act on the basis of delays caused by the competency examination. This is especially so considering the record indicates that Defendant raised no objections to the examination prior to his motion to dismiss his indictment. Accordingly, the time associated with Defendant's mental competency examination should be excluded from the computation of the seventy-day period under the Speedy Trial Act.