In re W.A.F.

573 A.2d 1264

• Court: District of Columbia Court of Appeals
• Decided: April 30, 1990
• Docket: No. 88-986
• Status: Published

Opinions

ROGERS, Chief Judge:

Appellant, W.A.F., a mildly retarded youth, appeals from an adjudication of delinquency on the ground that his due process rights were violated when the trial judge refused to apply the adult standard for determining his competency to stand trial, as set forth in Dusky v. United States, 362 U.S. 402, 80 S.Ct. 788, 4 L.Ed.2d 824 (1960). Appellant further contends that, because he is not competent to stand trial under this standard and not subject to alternative civil commitment proceedings, he must be released under Jackson v. Indiana, 406 U.S. 715, 738, 92 S.Ct. 1845, 1858, 32 L.Ed.2d 435 (1972). See Thomas v. United States, 418 A.2d 122 (D.C.1980). We agree that the trial judge erred in failing to apply the Dusky standard and accordingly reverse the judgment and remand the case for further proceedings.

I

Appellant was arrested three times in short succession and charged as a juvenile delinquent with distribution and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (phencyclidine on marijuana and cocaine).¹ D.C.Code § 33-541(a) (1987 Supp.). His counsel filed a motion seeking a determination of appellant’s incompetency under Dusky, supra, and his release under Jackson v. Indiana, supra, 406 U.S. at 738, 92 S.Ct. at 1858. Following an evidentiary hearing,² the trial judge found that appellant was competent to stand trial because he was not incompetent within the meaning of D.C.Code § 16-2315(c)(l) (1989), and the juvenile statutory scheme did not contemplate any other competency exception to delinquency proceedings. Based on stipulated facts, the judge found that appellant was a delinquent and committed him to the care and supervision of the District of Columbia Department of Human Services, with placement in a group home and continued attendance at a private special education school in Virginia.

II

Under Dusky, the accused must have “... sufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding [and have] a rational as well as factual understanding of the proceedings against him.” 362 U.S. at 402, 80 S.Ct. at 788.³ The trial judge rejected appellant’s claim that this standard applied in juvenile delinquency proceedings, ruling instead that D.C.Code § 16-2315(c)(l)⁴ defined the standard for incompetency in delinquency proceedings. Thus, under § 16-2315(c)(l), in the trial judge’s view, juvenile delinquency proceedings may be suspended due to incompetency only if the respondent is incapable of participating in his defense “by reason of mental illness or at least moderate mental retardation.” The judge’s conception of § 16-2315(c)(l)’s role in the juvenile delinquency statutory scheme was based on his view that the standard for juvenile incompetency was intended to be identical to the standard for commitment of mentally retarded juveniles. D.C.Code §§ 21-1114 and 6-1926 (1989 Repl.). This symmetry was attractive to the judge because a juvenile offender would receive treatment either as a result of a juvenile delinquency disposition or through a facility for the mentally retarded,⁵ and, thus there would be no possibility of a child being found incompetent to stand trial, but not subject to civil commitment and therefore released. The trial judge, citing In re C.W.M., 407 A.2d 617, 621 (D.C.1979), viewed this interpretation to be most consistent with the principles underlying the juvenile court system which, unlike the focus in adult criminal proceedings on the imposition of punishment, are designed to provide treatment and rehabilitation for juvenile offenders.

Notwithstanding the laudable efforts of the trial judge to assure that appellant would not fall through the cracks of the statutory scheme, we conclude that the denial of appellant’s motion for a Dusky incompetency determination founders on the failure to appreciate the constitutional limits of the statutory scheme.

In Pate v. Robinson, 383 U.S. 375, 86 S.Ct. 836, 15 L.Ed.2d 815 (1966), the Supreme Court held that the failure to observe procedures adequate to protect a defendant’s right not to be tried or convicted while incompetent to stand trial is a deprivation of due process. See also Drope v. Missouri, 420 U.S. 162, 95 S.Ct. 896, 43 L.Ed.2d 103 (1975). This court acknowledged in In re C.W.M., supra, that, as a matter of course, a person subject to a juvenile delinquency proceeding has the constitutional right to due process, which includes numerous procedural safeguards accorded adult offenders.⁶ Noting, however, that the Supreme Court has repeatedly declined to hold that a juvenile delinquency proceeding must conform to all the requirements of an adult criminal trial, the court recognized that the question remains whether “fundamental fairness” requires that certain requirements of adult criminal proceedings apply to juvenile delinquency proceedings. 407 A.2d at 621 (citing McKeiver v. Pennsylvania, supra note 6, 403 U.S. at 543, 91 S.Ct. at 1985). In C.W.M., the court concluded that the insanity defense, prohibited in juvenile delinquency proceedings under D.C.Code § 16 — 2315(d), did not serve a function essential to fundamental fairness that could not otherwise be performed adequately in the juvenile system and, hence, proceedings pursuant to D.C.Code § 16 — 2315(d) were fundamentally fair. Id. at 621-25. Since the right not to be tried while incompetent is a due process right, see Pate and Drope, supra, the Dusky type competency standard would be applicable to juvenile delinquency proceedings unless the juvenile system adequately protects that right. We conclude that the incompetency standard in section 16 — 2315(c)(1), together with other procedures in the juvenile system, does not do so.

In an adult criminal prosecution, the purpose of an inquiry into an accused’s competency is twofold: first, to assure that the accused understands the nature of the proceedings against him and is able to consult with his lawyer in order to prepare a defense, recognizing that a proper defense is essential to the accuracy of the guilt determination process, Drope v. Missouri, supra, 420 U.S. at 171-72, 95 S.Ct. at 903-04; Evans v. United States, 83 A.2d 876, 879 (D.C.Mun.App.1951), and, second, “to prevent the infliction of punishment upon a person so lacking in mental capacity as to be unable to understand the nature and purpose of the punishment,” Neely v. United States, 80 U.S.App.D.C. 187, 189, 150 F.2d 977, 979, cert. denied, 326 U.S. 768, 66 S.Ct. 166, 90 L.Ed. 463 (1945). A finding of incompetency results in the commitment of a defendant for care and treatment, and for observation and examination, in order to evaluate the possibility of a defendant regaining his competency. D.C.Code § 24-301(a), supra note 3. If the defendant regains competency, the prosecution can be resumed, id. § 24-301(b), but if it appears that the accused will not become competent in the reasonably foreseeable future, the criminal proceedings must be dismissed and civil commitment proceedings may be commenced pursuant to D.C. Code § 21-541 (1989). Id. § 24-301; Thomas, supra, 418 A.2d at 125-26. Since the standard of incompetency to stand trial does not mirror the standard for civil commitment, a criminal defendant could be found incompetent to stand trial and also not be subject to civil commitment, and, therefore, would be entitled to be released. Jackson v. Indiana, supra, 406 U.S. at 738, 92 S.Ct. at 1858; Thomas, supra, 418 A.2d at 125-26.

The first function served by the adult competency requirement and the Dusky standard is to assure that the person charged with violating the law is able to prepare a defense, in order to increase the accuracy of the factual and guilt determinations.⁷ No less a need exists for a youth in juvenile delinquency proceedings. The condition precedent for the court’s ordering of a rehabilitative disposition in a juvenile delinquency proceeding is a factual determination that the juvenile has violated a provision of the criminal law. D.C.Code § 16-2305(d) (1989 Repl.); In re W.B.W., 397 A.2d 143, 147 (D.C.1979). Even if all parties to a juvenile delinquency proceeding share the goal of finding a disposition in the child’s best interests, and the proceedings may be less adversarial than adult prosecution,⁸ such proceedings clearly present an opportunity for factual disputes. Differing views of what is in the child’s best interests may arise from these disputes as to the underlying facts. In addition, a disposition may well not be in the best interests of a child if it rests on an erroneous or unreliable factfinding determination. While counsel as well as a guardian ad litem are available to juvenile delinquents, D.C.Code §§ 16-2304, 21-2033 (1989 Repl.), as they were to appellant, both are limited in their ability to prepare a defense by the juvenile’s knowledge, understanding, and ability to reconstruct and communicate the facts. For this reason, the legislature has given the juvenile an unqualified right to be present at “a fact-finding hearing” in delinquency proceedings. D.C.Code § 16 — 2316(f) (1989 Repl.). Consequently, we find no inconsistency between the goals of the juvenile justice system, as reflected in our statutory scheme, and the basic principle that the accuracy of the factfinding determination — and the accused’s own minimal contribution thereto— is part of the fundamental fairness inherent in due process.

Accordingly, we hold that the determination of mental competency of a juvenile is one of those instances where the procedure followed in adult criminal prosecutions must be applied to juvenile delinquency proceedings. The right not to be tried or convicted while incompetent is a fundamental right of a juvenile in juvenile delinquency proceedings, see, e.g., State ex rel. Dandoy v. Superior Court In and For Pima County, 127 Ariz. 184, 619 P.2d 12 (1980) (en banc); In re Welfare of S.W.T., 277 N.W.2d 507 (Minn.1979); State in Interest of Causey, 363 So.2d 472 (La.1978); In the Interest of T.D.W., 109 Ill.App.3d 852, 65 , 441 N.E.2d 155 (1982), and we read our statute accordingly.⁹

Appellant further contends that the record demonstrates that he is incompetent under the Dusky standard, there being no evidence to the contrary, see note 2, supra. Therefore, he argues because the government is foreclosed by his established and unchanging status as mildly retarded from civilly committing him under section 16-2315(c), see note 4 supra, he is entitled to release. Jackson v. Indiana, supra, 406 U.S. at 738, 92 S.Ct. at 1858. Although we recognize that some courts have held on appeal that a juvenile appellant is incompetent to stand trial, see, e.g., Matter of Welfare of S.W.T., supra, 277 N.W.2d at 512, we do not find occasion to do so here, and we remand the case to the trial judge, who, now applying the correct standard, can determine appellant’s competency to stand trial and the nature of any other relief to which he may be entitled.

Accordingly, the judgment is reversed and' the case remanded for proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.

So ordered.

1 . This appeal involves only one of three cases, the other two having been dismissed at the time of disposition.

2 . The evidence consisted of testimony and four reports of psychiatrists and psychologists which indicated that appellant functioned in the mentally retarded range of intelligence. Two psychiatrists concluded that appellant did not understand the charges against him and could not adequately cooperate and assist his attorney in his defense. Another psychiatrist testified about appellant’s limited short-term memory and recall abilities and that appellant was significantly more limited in various kinds of abilities relating to intelligence as well as competency than the average child of his age. Appellant’s mother and school principal gave similar testimony about appellant’s limited mental ability. However, one psychologist testified that appellant’s understanding of the court system was not unlike that of a juvenile who was competent to participate in juvenile delinquency proceedings.

The trial judge also questioned appellant, who responded in a sometimes confusing and contradictory manner. Appellant stated that he did not understand the entire court system or its function — -he could not say what happens at a trial — but that it is the judge's job to send him home or keep him at the shelter house. He did not know what a prosecutor is, but he knew that it is his lawyer’s job to help him. He could not say what his lawyer had told him about the case, but knew that you get into trouble if you tell lies.

3 . See D.C.Code § 24-301(a) (1989 Repl.) {Dusky standard).

4 . D.C.Code § 16-2315(c)(l) (1989 Repl.) provides:

If as a result of mental examination the Division determines that a child alleged to be delinquent is incompetent to participate in proceedings under the petition by reason of mental illness or at least moderate mental retardation as defined in section 6-1902(b), it shall ... suspend further proceedings and the Corporation Counsel shall initiate commitment proceedings pursuant to chapter 5 or 11 of title 21.

There is no evidence that appellant is mentally ill.

5 . In 1980, the Council of the District of Columbia amended D.C.Code § 16-2315(c) to conform to the District of Columbia Mental Retardation Rights Act. Council op tin; District op Columbia Committkp. on Human Skrvichs, Rhport on Bill 3-220, at 5-6 (1980).

6 . 407 A.2d at 620 (citing McKeiver v. Pennsylvania, 403 U.S. 528, 533, 91 S.Ct. 1976, 1980, 29 L.Ed.2d 647 (1971); In re Winship, 397 U.S. 358, 90 S.Ct. 1068, 25 L.Ed.2d 368 (1970); In re Gault, 387 U.S. 1, 87 S.Ct. 1428, 18 L.Ed.2d 527 (1967)).

7 . The second function is, arguably, less relevant in juvenile delinquency proceedings, in view of treatment and rehabilitative goals of the juvenile justice system. Still, the effectiveness of a rehabilitative disposition requires an ability to understand the nature and purpose of the disposition and may therefore be required by the fundamental fairness inherent in due process. We need not reach this question, however, since we conclude that the first function served by the competency requirement cannot be fulfilled by procedures other than a Dusky type standard in juvenile delinquency proceedings.

8 . See, e.g„ D.C.Code § 16-2316(a) (1989 Repl.) (no right to a jury trial).

9 . The government's reliance on Wilson v. United States, 129 U.S.App.D.C. 107, 391 F.2d 460 (1968), is misplaced since the approach to competency adopted by the Wilson court is not contrary to the approach we adopt in the instant case. Wilson involved a criminal defendant who developed amnesia from a head injury which caused him to forget events from the afternoon of the robberies in question. The court rejected a per se approach to the question of incompetency by reason of amnesia and adopted a case-by-case approach depending on whether a specific defendant’s amnesia did, in fact, in a retrospective review by the court, deprive him of a fair trial and of the effective assistance of counsel. A retrospective review in delinquency proceedings could not cure deficiencies arising from the juvenile’s inability to understand and assist in the proceedings.