Court Opinion

ID: 9577245
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 21:33:21.916216+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:20:13.289853
License: Public Domain

R. B. Burns, P. J.
This case was originally assigned to Judge Allen for the preparation of the Court’s opinion. He has fully set forth the necessary facts and we agree with his opinion, except as to the trial court’s failure to hold a hearing on the question of the defendant’s competency upon his return from the forensic center.
In our opinion, once the question of competency is raised, the statute must be followed. A defendant who is incompetent could not intelligently waive or abandon such a hearing.
*62Therefore, in accordance with People v Lucas, 47 Mich App 385; 209 NW2d 436 (1973), we remand the case to the trial court and direct a competency hearing to be conducted. If defendant is found to have been competent to stand trial at the time he pled guilty, his conviction is affirmed. Contrariwise, if defendant is found to have been incompetent to stand trial at the time he pled guilty, his conviction shall be set aside and a new trial granted. We do not retain jurisdiction.
O’Hara, J., concurred.