California v. Johnson

Defendant Derek Johnson was charged with domestic violence causing injury, assault with force likely to inflict great bodily injury, and mayhem. During court proceedings, he engaged in multiple acts of self-mutilation, shouted to voices in his head, could not be quieted during court proceedings, defecated in his pants, was placed in a medical unit at the prison where he was given medication and was put on a suicide watch, and his lawyer expressed doubt throughout the trial about his mental competence to understand the proceedings and to assist in his defense. The jury found defendant guilty of domestic violence causing injury, assault with force likely to inflict great bodily injury, and mayhem. The jurors could not agree on the great bodily injury enhancements, and therefore, the court dismissed the enhancements for insufficient evidence. The court also dismissed the prior prison term allegations. The Court of Appeal concluded defendant’s behavior constituted substantial evidence he was not mentally competent to stand trial. The trial court’s refusal to hold a competency hearing when faced with this substantial evidence violated Johnson’s federal and state right to due process and necessitated reversal of judgment. View "California v. Johnson" on Justia Law