Court Opinion

ID: 9563417
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 18:39:31.641221+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:50.032142
License: Public Domain

Chief Justice TOAL:
I respectfully dissent. In my opinion, Hughes is competent to waive his right to pursue PCR. I disagree with the majority’s cherry-picking of the transcript and record. Throughout this proceeding Hughes has demonstrated an ability to understand the impact of his decisions and, in my opinion, did so in his appearance before this Court.
Further, in the interest of judicial economy, I would allow Hughes to waive his right to PCR. In my view, allowing Hughes to waive his right to PCR would result in the case arriving at the exact same procedural posture as is now. Ultimately, the majority’s decision will force the case to go full circle and eventually require a thorough evaluation to determine if Hughes is competent to be executed. As a result, after the Order for Execution is issued, counsel for Hughes could apply for subsequent PCR relief pursuant to Singleton, which is the final judicial safeguard against executing someone not mentally competent. Singleton, 313 S.C. 75, 87, 437 S.E.2d 53, 60 (1993) (stating that apply § 17-27-20 is the final judicial safeguard for a stay of execution to evaluation a defendants competency and immediate review by this Court is permitted if the defendant is found competent by the PCR *410court); S.C.Code Ann. § 17-27-20(a)(6) (stating that a defendant may apply relief upon any ground of alleged error). The decision of the majority adds an additional step, one that Hughes has requested that he be allowed to waive.