Com. v. Vailes

• Decision Date: 02 December 1971
• Citation: 360 Mass. 522,275 N.E.2d 893
• Parties: COMMONWEALTH v. Ernest L. VAILES.
• Court: United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court

Page 893

275 N.E.2d 893

360 Mass. 522

COMMONWEALTH v. Ernest L. VAILES.

Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, Suffolk.

Argued Sept. 13, 1971.

Decided Dec. 2, 1971.

Reuben Goodman, Boston, for defendant.

William A. Doherty, Asst. Dist. Atty., for Commonwealth.

Before TAURO, C.J., and CUTTER, REARDON, BRAUCHER and HENNESSEY, JJ.

HENNESSEY, Justice.

At a trial pursuant to G.L. c. 278, §§ 33A--33G, the defendant was found guilty and was sentenced on an indictment charging him with rape. The argued assignments of error relate solely to the issue of the defendant's mental competence at the time of the trial.

We state only those facts necessary to a determination of that issue. The defendant was arraigned on April 28, 1970, in the Municipal Court of the Dorchester District and was committed, pursuant to G.L. c. 123, § 100A, as amended through St.1957, c. 236, to Bridgewater State Hospital for thirty-five days observation. Upon his return to that court on May 29, 1970, a medical report was filed stating that he was competent to stand trial. Following his indictment, the defendant was arraigned in the Superior Court on July 15, 1970, where, pursuant to his counsel's request, he was recommitted to Bridgewater State Hospital for thirty-five days observation. On August 14, 1970, a second medical report was filed which stated that he was competent to stand trial, and the defendant was returned for trial.

The trial began on October 28, 1970. During the selection on the jury, the judge asked the defendant, 'Mr. Vailes, are we keeping you awake or anything' to which the defendant responded, 'No.' From other evidence we infer that the judge's question was occasioned because the defendant was resting his head upon his arm and appeared to be falling asleep. At this same time the defendant was also observed buttoning and unbuttoning his shirt and removing his jacket. After the selection of the jyry, counsel conferred with the judge out of the hearing of the jury. Following this colloquy at the bench the judge excused the jury and questioned the defendant as to his competency as described below in this opinion.

At the conclusion of the court's questioning, the defendant's attorney moved for a mistrial and another Bridgewater commitment for the defendant on the ground that the defendant appeared 'to be out of touch with reality right now.' He also informed the judge that the defendant was 'not too communicative' with counsel. The judge denied the motion. Prior to resuming the trial on the second day, the judge denied a request by the defendant's attorney to have the defendant examined by a court psychiatrist. The defendant argues that there were sufficient indications of his incompetency at the time of the trial to require the trial judge to hold a full hearing on the issue and that his failure to do so was constitutional error.

The trial, conviction or sentencing of a person charged with a criminal offence while he is legally incompetent violates his constitutional rights of due ¹ Pate v. Robinson, 383 U.S. 375, 86 S.Ct. 836, 15 L.Ed.2d 815. Bishop v. United States, 350 U.S. 961, 76 S.Ct. 440, 100 L.Ed. 835. This rule has long been the common law of this Commonwealth. Commonwealth v. Braley, 1 Mass. 103. Commonwealth v. Hathaway, 13 Mass. 299. The test to be applied in determining the competence of the defendant is 'whether he has sufficient present ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding--and whether he has a rational as well as factual understanding of the proceedings against him.' Dusky v. United States, 362 U.S. 402, 80 S.Ct. 788, 4 L.Ed.2d 824. In those situations where there exists doubt as to whether the defendant satisfies this test, the judge must, on his own initiative, conduct a full hearing on the issue. Pate v. Robinson, 383 U.S. 375, 86 S.Ct. 836, 15 L.Ed.2d 815. This doubt which necessitates a hearing has been more fully described as 'a substantial question of possible doubt.' Rhay v. White, 9 Cir., 385 F.2d 883, 886.

1. There was no error in the denial of the defendant's motion for a mistrial and for a further psychiatric examination of the defendant, nor was there error in the judge's failure to order an evidentiary hearing on the defendant's competency. In the circumstances of this case, these matters resided in the sound discretion of the judge and it has not been established that he abused that discretion. The defendant had been observed by psychiatrists for a total period of more than two months during the six months just preceding the trial, and the judge had a right to rely upon the psychiatric report as one of the elements bearing on the issue of the defendant's competence. ² Commonwealth v. Devereaux, 257 Mass. 391, 396--397, 153 N.E. 881. The most recent psychiatric report was dated August 13, 1970, which was only about two and one-half months before the trial. Additionally, the judge addressed to the defendant, in the absence of the jury, a series of approximately sixteen questions concerned with the defendant's alertness and awareness. Under the discipline of these questions, the defendant answered responsively. The judge had the opportunity to observe the...