Court Opinion

ID: 172272
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2010-08-14 18:48:19+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:25:18.304690
License: Public Domain

FILED
                                                           United States Court of Appeals
                                                                   Tenth Circuit

                                                                   June 16, 2009
                                                               Elisabeth A. Shumaker
                                                                   Clerk of Court
                   UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                                TENTH CIRCUIT

 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

              Plaintiff–Appellee,
                                                        No. 08-6198
 v.                                           (D.C. No. 5:07-CR-00213-HE-3)
                                                       (W.D. Okla.)
 JERRY ALLEN CLARK,

              Defendant–Appellant.

                          ORDER AND JUDGMENT *

Before LUCERO, MURPHY, and McCONNELL, Circuit Judges.

      Jerry Allen Clark appeals a district court order requiring him to be

involuntarily medicated prior to trial. Because Clark has already been

involuntarily medicated and deemed competent, we dismiss this interlocutory

appeal as moot.

      *
        The case is unanimously ordered submitted without oral argument
pursuant to Fed. R. App. P. 34(a)(2) and 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). This order and
judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case,
res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the citation of
orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under the
terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 32.1.
                                          I

      Clark was charged with two counts under 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) for his role

in a methamphetamine-distribution conspiracy. On January 28, 2008, the district

court found him incompetent to assist in his defense and ordered him committed

to a medical facility. The court further ordered the government to provide a

report indicating whether Clark was likely to regain competency and whether his

release would pose a danger to third parties.

      On September 10, 2008, the district court held a second competency

hearing to consider the government’s report, which recommended involuntarily

medicating Clark. The court heard testimony from Clark’s treating physician at

the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina. Clark’s attorney cross-

examined the doctor, asking a number of questions in regard to the second prong

of the test established in Sell v. United States, 539 U.S. 166 (2003), for

involuntary medication determinations: whether “administration of the drugs is

substantially likely to render the defendant competent to stand trial [and]

substantially unlikely to have side effects that will interfere significantly with the

defendant’s ability to assist counsel in conducting a trial defense.” Id. at 181.

The doctor acknowledged that there is not much data on individuals with Clark’s

condition but testified that his research suggested that medicating Clark was

substantially likely to render him competent to stand trial.

                                         -2-
      Following the second hearing, the district court concluded that the

government had satisfied its burden of proving each of the four Sell factors by

clear and convincing evidence. The court entered an order placing Clark on a

four-month involuntary medication regimen, to be followed by a third competency

hearing. Clark then filed a pro se notice of appeal and request for a stay. The

district court denied the pro se motion for a stay without prejudice to refiling

through counsel.

      Acting on Clark’s notice of appeal, this court entered a show cause order

informing Clark that future filings must be submitted by his counsel. Clark’s

attorney responded to our show cause order, and we accepted jurisdiction over

Clark’s interlocutory appeal on October 15, 2008, relying on Sell, 539 U.S. at

176, and United States v. Bradley, 417 F.3d 1107, 1109 n.1 (10th Cir. 2005). In

our order, we noted the government’s position that Clark’s appeal was moot

because the medication order had not been stayed.

      At no point did Clark move for a stay through counsel, either in this court

or in the district court. Clark’s opening brief was initially due on February 2,

2009, but Clark’s attorney requested and was granted two time extensions.

Clark’s brief was filed on April 3, 2009. Although it does not concede the issue,

it notes that the appeal may be moot.

      While this appeal was pending, Clark was medicated in accordance with the

district court’s order. On May 4, 2009, the district court held a third competency

                                         -3-
hearing. It found that Clark “has recovered to such an extent that he is able to

understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him and to

assist properly in his defense” and accordingly set Clark’s case for trial.

                                          II

      The government contends that Clark’s interlocutory appeal is now moot.

We agree. “[W]hen intervening acts destroy a party’s legally cognizable interest

in the outcome of adjudication, Article III deprives the federal courts of

jurisdiction over that party’s claim.” Moongate Water Co., Inc. v. Dona Ana Mut.

Domestic Water Consumers Ass’n, 420 F.3d 1082, 1088 (10th Cir. 2005)

(quotation and alterations omitted).

      Clark’s interlocutory appeal sought to reverse the district court’s order

authorizing involuntary medication to restore him to competency. Because a stay

was not properly requested, the order was carried out and Clark was medicated.

As a result, he has been found competent, and the relief Clark sought from this

court is no longer available. Thus, his appeal is moot. See United States v.

Bracy, 510 F.3d 792, 793 (8th Cir. 2007) (concluding that an interlocutory appeal

of an involuntary medication order is moot after post-commitment finding of

competence).

                                         -4-
                               III

Because we conclude it is moot, we DISMISS Clark’s interlocutory appeal.

                                     ENTERED FOR THE COURT

                                     Carlos F. Lucero
                                     Circuit Judge

                               -5-