Opinion ID: 867478
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Unilateral Examination of Evidence

Text: ¶ 47 Moody alleges that the trial judge's review of the record on competency constituted an impermissible competency determination. However, the record contains no evidence that defense counsel ever objected to the trial judge's review of the record on competency. Consequently, Moody has waived this claim and we review only for fundamental error. See Bolton, 182 Ariz. at 297, 896 P.2d at 837. ¶ 48 Moreover, Moody appears to misperceive the record. Arizona Rule of Criminal Procedure 11.5(a) and State v. Blier, 113 Ariz. 501, 503, 557 P.2d 1058, 1060 (1976), require that any competency hearing be open to the parties and guarantee the right of the defendant to be present. A competency hearing is required, however, only [i]f the court determines that reasonable grounds for an examination exist. Ariz. R.Crim. P. 11.3(a); accord State v. Steelman, 120 Ariz. 301, 315, 585 P.2d 1213, 1227 (1978); State v. De Vote, 87 Ariz. 179, 182, 349 P.2d 189, 192 (1960); State v. Reid, 87 Ariz. 123, 126, 348 P.2d 731, 733 (1960). In determining whether reasonable grounds exist, a judge may rely, among other factors, on his own observations of the defendant's demeanor and ability to answer questions. See State v. Harding, 137 Ariz. 278, 286, 670 P.2d 383, 391 (1983) (upholding a trial court's determination that a defendant was competent to waive his right to counsel based on psychiatric reports and the trial court's own observations). Further, if a defendant has already been adjudicated competent, the court must be permitted to rely on the record supporting that previous adjudication. State v. Contreras, 112 Ariz. 358, 360-61, 542 P.2d 17, 19-20 (1975) (holding that before granting a second competency hearing, there must be some reasonable ground to justify another hearing on facts not previously presented to the trial court). ¶ 49 We presume that a court is aware of the relevant law and applies it correctly in arriving at its ruling. See State v. Medrano, 185 Ariz. 192, 196, 914 P.2d 225, 229 (1996). With this presumption in mind, Moody's contention that the trial judge's pretrial review of the record on competency was an unlawful private competency hearing must be rejected. Rather, the record reflects that the trial judge's actions were consistent with his obligation under Rule 11.2 to seek reasonable grounds before ordering a subsequent competency evaluation. Each time the judge denied a defense motion for a competency hearing, he indicated that the proffered evidence gave him no reason to question Moody's competency, which had previously been determined. This interpretation is supported by the fact that the trial judge never expressly found Moody competent, as would be required after a full Rule 11.5 competency hearing. See Ariz. R.Crim. P. 11.5(a). When finally presented with evidence that could possibly lead to reasonable grounds to question Moody's competency, the trial judge scheduled a hearing to determine whether such grounds existed. [4] We find no error in the trial judge's conduct, and certainly none that constitutes error of such dimensions that it cannot be said it is possible for [the] defendant to have had a fair trial. State v. Smith, 114 Ariz. 415, 420, 561 P.2d 739, 744 (1977). [5]