Court Opinion

ID: 4439206
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-09-18 15:02:49.080574+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:02:26.827530
License: Public Domain

FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
                   STATE OF FLORIDA
                   _____________________________

                           No. 1D18-4953
                   _____________________________

A.D.H., A Child,

    Appellant,

    v.

STATE OF FLORIDA,

    Appellee.
                   _____________________________

On appeal from the Circuit Court for Leon County.
Terry Lewis, Judge.

                        September 18, 2019

RAY, C.J.

    A.D.H. challenges his adjudication of delinquency for
tampering with an electronic monitor. He contends the trial court
erred in failing to hold a competency hearing and render a
competency determination after the court had reasonable grounds
to believe he was incompetent to proceed. Accepting the State’s
confession of error, we reverse and remand for further proceedings.

     During the delinquency proceedings below, defense counsel
asked the court for an expert evaluation to determine whether the
child was competent to proceed. The court granted the motion and
scheduled a competency hearing in accordance with section 985.19,
Florida Statutes, and Florida Rule of Juvenile Procedure
8.095(a)(1). Yet nothing in the record indicates that a competency
hearing took place or that a competency determination was made
by the court. The court ultimately adjudicated the child delinquent
and committed him to a non-secure residential program with nine
months of post-commitment probation. After the disposition
hearing, the expert’s competency evaluation was filed with the
court.

     Once a court has reasonable grounds to question a defendant’s
competency, it must hold a competency hearing and make an
independent determination on whether the defendant is
competent to proceed. Sheheane v. State, 228 So. 3d 1178, 1180
(Fla. 1st DCA 2017). “Because an independent competency finding
is a due-process right that cannot be waived once a reason for a
competency hearing has surfaced, the trial court fundamentally
err[s] in failing to make such a finding.” Zern v. State, 191 So. 3d
962, 965 (Fla. 1st DCA 2016); see also A.L.Y. v. State, 212 So. 3d
399, 402 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017) (noting that “the procedural rules
governing competency determinations in juvenile cases parallel
the procedural rules in the adult criminal cases”).

     In its order for expert evaluation of A.D.H, the court found
that reasonable grounds existed to believe that the child may be
incompetent to proceed. It was thus required to hold a hearing on
the issue and make an independent determination on the child’s
mental condition. See § 985.19(1)(b), Fla. Stat.; Fla. R. Juv. P.
8.095(a)(2); see also B.E. v. State, 253 So. 3d 772, 773 (Fla. 1st DCA
2018). Because the court failed to do either, we must reverse.

     On remand, the court may make a retroactive determination
of competency if it is possible to do so in a manner that comports
with due process. B.E., 253 So. 3d at 773. If the court finds that the
child was competent at the time of the hearing, it must enter a
nunc pro tunc order with no change in the adjudication of
delinquency. Id. But if a retroactive determination of competency
is not appropriate or the court determines that the child was not
competent at the time of the hearing, the court must conduct a new
hearing once it determines that the child is competent to proceed.
Id.

    REVERSED and REMANDED.

WOLF and M.K. THOMAS, JJ., concur.
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               _____________________________

    Not final until disposition of any timely and
    authorized motion under Fla. R. App. P. 9.330 or
    9.331.
               _____________________________

Andy Thomas, Public Defender, and Jasmine Russell, Assistant
Public Defender, Tallahassee, for Appellant.

Ashley Moody, Attorney General, and Heather Flanagan Ross,
Assistant Attorney General, Tallahassee, for Appellee.

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