Court Opinion

ID: 9497871
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 17:02:15.181471+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:58:28.352873
License: Public Domain

BYE, Circuit Judge,
dissenting in part and concurring in part.
Both my colleagues conclude Terriek Nooner was incompetent to request the dismissal of his habeas petition. Because the record shows Nooner understood the significance of his decision and its consequences, I respectfully disagree and would honor Mr. Nooner’s request to dismiss his petition.
I
We apply a clearly erroneous standard to the district court’s determination Noon-er was competent to dismiss his federal habeas petition, Smith v. Armontrout, 812 F.2d 1050, 1058 (8th Cir.1987), and thus I begin with a discussion of the record the district court considered. Pursuant to an order of an administrative panel of this court, the district court had Nooner undergo a mental competency evaluation at the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri. Dr. Richart DeMier evaluated Nooner, and subsequently filed a report opining Nooner lacked the competency to dismiss his petition. Dr. DeMier concluded Nooner was feigning mental illness, but nevertheless believed Nooner was incompetent based on two factors.
First, Dr. DeMier based his opinion regarding Nooner’s incompetency on Noon-er’s disorganized pattern of speaking when discussing his legal case. In Dr. DeMier’s opinion, this exhibited a disordered thought process in which Nooner’s ideas and statement were not linked together in a rational way.
Second, Dr. DeMier did not believe Nooner could articulate a rational reason for wanting his habeas petition dismissed. Nooner indicated, however, the dismissal of his habeas petition will trigger an execution date, which in turn will trigger an opportunity to appear before an executive clemency board. Dr. DeMier reports Nooner “explained that, by Arkansas law, once an execution date is set, he has the opportunity to appear before an ‘executive clemency board.’ ” Nooner further explained he will then have a hearing and an opportunity to call witnesses — an opportunity he feels has been denied him in his habeas proceedings. Specifically, Dr. De-Mier’s report indicates Nooner said “[a]ll I need is an opportunity for a hearing and to call witnesses.”
Nooner believes the murder charge against him in the state proceeding underlying this habeas petition is unlawful because, although he was initially arrested for possessing stolen property, he was never charged with and proven guilty of that crime. Specifically, Dr. DeMier’s report indicates Nooner said “[tjhey never arrest*818ed me for the charge I’m doing.” Nooner believes Arkansas’s failure to charge him with the crime for which he was arrested invalidates the arrest as well as the subsequent murder charge — because the murder charge followed from the initial arrest. Dr. DeMier indicated Nooner “focus[ed] on allegations that he was not detained, arrested, charged, tried or convicted in the proper manner,” and said “[t]he source of where these murder charges came from were never proven .... It’s a poisonous fruit tree.” Nooner wants the opportunity to present these arguments to the executive clemency board.
Nooner confused Dr. DeMier, however, by describing his theories about the unlawful arrest as a “removed lawsuit” (that is, the possession of stolen property charge) being “concealed” by the courts, because the courts never charged Nooner with that crime. Dr. DeMier misunderstood Nooner to believe this “hidden” or “removed” lawsuit would be revealed by a judge or judges at the executive clemency hearing. Dr. DeMier candidly admitted “I was never able to understand his rationale for this reported belief.” On the basis of his inability to understand Nooner’s theory, Dr. DeMier concluded Nooner was delusional and engaged in “magical thinking,” because everyone knows judges do not conceal or reveal hidden lawsuits.
After Dr. DeMier provided his report, the state deposed Dr. DeMier and sought their own experts to address Nooner’s competency. Before the competency hearing was held, two doctors from the Arkansas State Hospital provided reports opining Nooner was competent to dismiss his habeas petition. Dr. Charles Mallory, the forensic staff psychologist at the state hospital, concluded Nooner was a competent malingerer. He disputed both points upon which Dr. DeMier based his finding of incompetence.
First, with respect to the disorganized pattern of speaking Nooner exhibited when discussing his case, Dr. Mallory believed there was a method to Nooner’s madness. Dr. Mallory cited several examples where Nooner would start with a logical response to a question, then add a delusional ideation or irrational statement. For example, when Dr. Mallory asked Nooner what happened during his evaluation at the Springfield Medical Center, Nooner replied: “Dr. DeMier, he said I was delusional, seeing things that aren’t true. I don’t know if he found me incompetent.” That was a logical and rational response to the question posed by Dr. Mallory. But Nooner then added a delusional ideation to his statement: “I got air bubbles in my body.” Dr. Mallory cited another specific example. When asked if he had any mental problems, Nooner said: “No. The only problem I have is being toyed with when I know my rights.” Again, a logical and rational response to the question. Nooner then added: “I’m suffering from anguish because I have glands on my penis.” Again, a delusion ideation or irrational ending. Dr. Mallory cited other examples of this pattern as well. In Dr. Mallory’s opinion, this pattern of starting with a logical response, but ending with an irrational statement, coupled with the fact Nooner’s statements were always grammatically comprehensible, was simply further evidence Nooner was feigning mental illness.
Second, with respect to Dr. DeMier’s belief Nooner could not articulate a rational reason for wanting his habeas petition dismissed, Dr. Mallory opined Nooner correctly understood the consequences and significance of his decision. Nooner understood an execution date would be set if his habeas petition were dismissed, which would in turn trigger a hearing before the clemency board. Dr. Mallory expressed *819his understanding of Nooner’s theories regarding the “hidden” or “removed” lawsuit much differently than Dr. DeMier had. Dr. Mallory understood Nooner believed his arrest on the murder charge was illegal because he was never prosecuted for the charge for which he was initially arrested, theft of a motor vehicle, i.e., the “hidden” lawsuit. Nooner planned to reveal this “hidden” lawsuit at the clemency hearing by calling witnesses, including the judge who presided over the underlying state charges. Dr. Mallory explained Nooner’s argument showed an unsophisticated understanding of the legal process, but a rational desire to present his theories to a clemency board because Nooner believed he had “messed up” his habeas petition.
The state respondents also obtained the opinion of Dr. Oliver Hall, the medical director of forensic services at the Arkansas State Hospital. Dr. Hall essentially agreed with Dr. Mallory’s opinions in all respects.
When the district court held the competency hearing, all three doctors testified and were subject to cross-examination. Dr. Mallory thoroughly discussed and explained Nooner’s supposedly delusional ideas about the “hidden” or “removed” lawsuit. Specifically, Dr. Mallory testified:
[Nooner] showed that he wants to present this information in some kind of forum, maybe the clemency board or review board. He has an idea, among others, that because he and another man were caught in a stolen car — that’s when he was arrested — that he wasn’t charged with car theft or anything else, he was just charged with murder — first of all, he thinks there’s something wrong with the justice system and he should have been charged with murder — I mean, of car theft or something else first, and since he wasn’t, they’ve concealed this lawsuit.
App. at 439. Dr. Mallory further opined that Nooner’s desire to present this information to an executive clemency board showed an “inadequate comprehension of certain legal procedures or processes,” id. at 437-38, and “lack[ed] legal sophistication,” id. at 439, but was logical and understandable. Id.
II
Based on the record presented to the district court, I find nothing clearly erroneous about the district court’s conclusion Nooner was competent to request the dismissal of his habeas petition. The record shows Nooner made a knowing and voluntary decision. In reviewing the testimony and reports of the three experts who testified regarding Nooner’s competency, I believe the record shows Nooner articulated a rational reason for wanting to dismiss the petition. Nooner understands an execution date will not be set until his habeas proceedings are complete. He understands a hearing before the executive clemency board will not be set until an execution date is set. Nooner first moved this court to dismiss his habeas petition on April 30, 2003, the day after the appeal was docketed. His desire to have the petition dismissed — so he could have a clemency hearing sooner rather than later — is understandable. Witnesses get older and memories fade, evidence is lost or becomes stale. Nooner can not pursue his theory about his unlawful arrest in this habeas proceeding (the claim was never raised in state court and would be procedurally barred), believes that to be his best argument, and wants the chance to present the argument before an executive clemency board. Now, two years later, Nooner still has not had that chance.
It may be misguided, perhaps even desperate, for Nooner to believe he has a better chance of exoneration before the clemency board than he has in this habeas *820proceeding, but I see nothing delusional about that belief. As Dr. Mallory indicated in the district court proceedings, Noon-er’s misconception of the strength of his legal position does not equate with incompetence — otherwise we would have to conclude many habeas petitioners who appear before us are incompetent. Nor does Dr. DeMier’s inability to understand Nooner’s inartful references to a “hidden” or “removed” lawsuit mean Nooner was delusional. I suggest that merely means the good doctor failed to understand Nooner’s “jailhouse” theory.
The paternalistic temptation to believe we know better than Nooner what is in his best interests is strong, particularly because this is a death penalty case. I find it necessary to set aside that temptation, however, in order to honor Nooner’s right to control the course of this litigation as he sees fit. In the absence of clear record evidence Nooner failed to understand the significance and consequences of his decision, I would respect Nooner’s right of self-determination and grant his request to dismiss this petition.
Ill
Although I would grant Nooner’s request to dismiss this habeas petition, I must decide the merits of one of the claims raised in the petition on which my colleagues disagree because we could not issue a mandate otherwise. My colleagues disagree on whether Nooner’s trial counsel was ineffective in failing to present psychiatric mitigation evidence during the penalty phase of Nooner’s trial. After carefully considering the arguments presented by both my colleagues, I conclude Nooner failed to establish the Arkansas Supreme Court’s resolution of his ineffective assistance of counsel claim was contrary to or an unreasonable application of clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme Court. I therefore concur in denying the habeas petition.