United States Ninth Circuit

Where a defendant has suffered massive trauma to his brain and subsequently exhibits psychotic behavior, some of it while awaiting trial, the court should conduct a mental competency hearing even if defendant appeared calm in court.

Appellate Information

• Argued 11/14/2000
• Decided 02/06/2001
• Published 02/06/2001

Judges

• KOZINSKI, Circuit Judge., Before:  KOZINSKI, HAWKINS and BERZON, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Ninth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• James R. Forbes,Lillick & Charles LLP, Susan K. Alexander, Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach LLP, San Francisco, California, argued the cause for Appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Dane R. Gillette, Senior Assistant Attorney General of State of California, San Francisco, California, argued the cause for Appellee.