John Brennan Ball, Appellant, v. State of Florida, Appellee. (2024)

John Brennan Ball (“Appellant”) appeals the trial court's order finding him to be retroactively competent following a nunc pro tunc competency hearing. This Court previously determined that the trial court erred when it relied solely on counsel's stipulation in finding Appellant competent and failed to independently evaluate the expert's written report and make an independent determination of competency as to three of his counts. Ball v. State, 319 So. 3d 74 (Fla. 5th DCA 2021). We remanded for the trial court to “conduct a nunc pro tunc competency evaluation, if it can, to determine whether Appellant was competent to proceed at the time of his trial and to enter an appropriate order regarding his competence.” Id.

On remand, the trial court held a nunc pro tunc competency hearing, following which it found Appellant to be retroactively competent. Both before and during the hearing, Appellant repeatedly requested to be appointed counsel to represent him at the hearing. The trial court denied Appellant's request for counsel. Appellant contends that the court erred when it declined his request for appointed counsel. The State concedes error in that a nunc pro tunc competency hearing is a crucial stage of the proceedings at which Appellant was entitled to be represented by counsel. We agree. See generally Dickerson v. State, 228 So. 3d 658, 659–60 (Fla. 5th 2017) (noting that defendants are entitled to counsel at each crucial stage of the proceedings, and defining “crucial stage” as any stage that may significantly affect the outcome of the proceedings); see also United States v. Ross, 703 F.3d 856, 874 (6th Cir. 2012) (“Neither the Supreme Court nor the Sixth Circuit have considered whether a competency hearing is a ‘critical stage.’ ‘However, every federal court of appeals to take up the question has answered it affirmatively.’ ” (internal citations omitted)).

We therefore reverse and remand for the trial court to conduct a nunc pro tunc competency hearing at which Appellant is represented by counsel. We do not address the other issues raised on appeal.

Reverse and Remanded with instructions.

Per Curiam.

Jay, Eisnaugle, and Boatwright, JJ., concur.