Gary Lynn Gatlin v. United States
JusticiabilityDoctri
Should courts evaluate evidence supporting motions for competency evaluations differently when the claimed basis for incompetency is intellectual disability rather than mental illness?
QUESTIONS PRESENTED I. SHOULD COURTS EVALUATE EVIDENCE SUPPORTING MOTIONS FOR COMPETENCY EVALUATIONS DIFFERENTLY WHEN THE CLAIMED BASIS FOR INCOMPETENCY IS INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RATHER THAN MENTAL ILLNESS? Il. WHAT IS THE CORRECT STANDARD FOR REVIEWING DENIED MOTIONS FOR COMPETENCY EVALUATIONS UNDER 18 U.S.C. § 4241(A) AND CONSTITUTIONAL DUE PROCESS WHEN THE ISSUE IS WHETHER INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY AFFECTS A DEFENDANT’S COMPETENCY? Til. DID THE TRIAL COURT VIOLATE THE STANDARDS FOR GRANTING A MOTION FOR A COMPETENCY EVALUATION AND HEARING WHEN THE DENIED MOTIONS WERE SUPPORTED BY DECLARATIONS OF COUNSEL AND A PSYCHIATRIC REPORT INDICATING THAT DEFENDANT’S INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY INTERFERED WITH DEFENDANT’S ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND THE CHARGES AND PARTICIPATE IN HIS DEFENSE? i