Court Opinion

ID: 9478474
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 06:49:59.668125+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:46:26.939093
License: Public Domain

MURNAGHAN, Circuit Judge,
dissenting:
Judge Phillips excels both as a wordsmith and as a thinker. It, therefore, is difficult to enter the lists as his opponent. Yet, here is a case where his words simply fail to convince me. My contrary views are set out in the vacated panel opinion, United States v. Charters, 829 F.2d 479 (4th Cir.1987). To attempt, point by point, to reemphasize the extent of our disagreement will serve little purpose and will merely appear to be an attempt to denigrate the style and thought processes of one whom I truly admire. I will, therefore, restrict myself to the questioning of an attempt to exalt the dependability, as specialized professional judgments, of opinions of government medical personnel because of their “duty to attempt to restore mental competency so that the patient may be returned to the free society.”
*315The majority deferentially places in the hands of government personnel the question of whether the antipsychotic medication should be compelled over Charters’ unambiguous objections. The prospect that the views of a governmental medical official may be inclined to coincide with those of the federal prosecutor on the desirability of the trial’s proceeding and a resulting conviction leading to lengthy incarceration is not remote.1 They are, when all is said and done, fellow employees.
Nor should we ignore the likelihood that Butner would rather be freed of the concerns such as diversion of experts it would rather detail to other tasks than the care of Charters. It may well be that something other than Charters’ well-being drives the opining medical officials. I find due process lacking when the effective last word rests finally with government medical officials on whether an incompetent Charters — incompetent to stand trial, not, however, having been shown to be incompetent to make a rational decision as to whether to submit to antipsychotic medication — should be forced against his will to submit to antipsychotic medication with serious adverse medical risks. Fairness requires the assurance of an unbiased decision. That is the function of a court proceeding where one like Charters can be assured of competent independent representation and unbiased testimony.
The legal system under which we operate favors the presentation of opposing views. One side effectively unopposed is not enough. I respectfully dissent.

. Some free society!