P. v. Johnson
Charged with bank robbery, the trial court suspended proceedings to assess defendant Elvertis Johnson’s mental competence to stand trial. A jury determined defendant was competent, but after proceedings were reinstituted defendant’s new counsel again expressed concern about defendant’s competence. The trial court suspended proceedings again and ordered new psychiatric evaluations. In 2010, after comparing the former and new evaluation reports, the trial court concluded there had been no substantial change warranting another competency trial. Later, in 2011, when defendant’s counsel reported defendant would not speak to him or look at him, the trial court concluded defendant was feigning incompetence and refused to suspend proceedings.
Comments on P. v. Johnson