Court Opinion

ID: 4444066
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-10-03 19:03:11.582383+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:53:19.361770
License: Public Domain

FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
                 STATE OF FLORIDA
                 _____________________________

                         No. 1D18-1416
                 _____________________________

DANA PETERSON,

    Appellant,

    v.

STATE OF FLORIDA,

    Appellee.
                 _____________________________

On appeal from the Circuit Court for Clay County.
John H. Skinner, Judge.

                         October 3, 2019

PER CURIAM.

     The trial court committed fundamental error in finding that
Appellant was competent to proceed based on defense counsel’s
stipulation where there is no indication that the trial court
reviewed the expert’s report, made an independent determination
that Appellant’s competency had been restored, or entered a
written order to that effect. See Davis v. State, 44 Fla. L. Weekly
D2059 (Fla. 1st DCA Aug. 13, 2019); Robinson v. State, 250 So. 3d
777, 778 (Fla. 1st DCA 2018); Zern v. State, 191 So. 3d 962, 964-65
(Fla. 1st DCA 2016). Accordingly, we reverse and remand for a
retroactive determination of competency, if possible. Davis, 44 Fla.
L. Weekly at D2059; Robinson, 250 So. 3d at 778-79; Zern, 191 So.
3d at 965. If the trial court finds that Appellant was competent at
the time he entered his plea, it must enter a nunc pro tunc written
order memorializing that finding with no change in the judgment.
See Bowden v. State, 44 Fla. L. Weekly D2261 (Fla. 1st DCA Sept.
9, 2019). However, if the trial court cannot make a retroactive
determination, it must allow Appellant to withdraw his plea and
adjudicate his present competency to proceed. Id.

    REVERSED and REMANDED.

RAY, C.J., and BILBREY and JAY, JJ., concur.

                 _____________________________

    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 Megan Long, Assistant Public
Defender, Tallahassee, for Appellant.

Ashley Moody, Attorney General, Tallahassee, for Appellee.

                                2