SWM v. State

Decision Date25 April 2013
Docket NumberNo. S–12–0154.,S–12–0154.
PartiesIn the Interest of SWM, Petitioner, v. The STATE of Wyoming, Respondent.
CourtWyoming Supreme Court

299 P.3d 673

In the Interest of SWM, Petitioner,
v.
The STATE of Wyoming, Respondent.

No. S–12–0154.

Supreme Court of Wyoming.

April 25, 2013.



Representing Petitioner: Diane M. Lozano, State Public Defender; Aaron Hockman, Assistant Public Defender; Tina N. Olson, Appellate Counsel.
Argument by Mr. Hockman.

Representing Respondent: Gregory A. Phillips, Attorney General; David L. Delicath, Deputy Attorney General; Theodore R. Racines, Senior Assistant Attorney General. Argument by Mr. Delicath.


Before KITE, C.J., and HILL, VOIGT, BURKE, and DAVIS, JJ.

BURKE, Justice.

[¶ 1] In this interlocutory appeal, Petitioner, SWM, challenges the juvenile court's determination that he was competent to proceed to adjudication in a delinquency proceeding. He contends that the juvenile court violated his constitutionally protected due process rights when it disregarded relevant evidence and failed to apply the proper standard in determining competency. We agree and, accordingly, reverse and remand for further proceedings.

ISSUE

[¶ 2] SWM presents one issue: Do the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Wyoming require that the due process considerations that underlie Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7–11–303 also apply in determining the competency of a minor under Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 14–6–219?

FACTS

[¶ 3] On December 23, 2011, the State filed a petition in juvenile court alleging that SWM had committed two delinquent acts.1

[299 P.3d 674]

SWM was twelve years old at the time of the alleged delinquent acts. During his initial appearance, SWM was informed of “the consequences ... of being a Delinquency Child,” and was advised of his “rights guaranteed by the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Wyoming.” SWM was also advised that juvenile court was different than criminal court, but the juvenile court made it clear that SWM faced the possibility of significant sanctions if adjudicated delinquent. Those sanctions included required participation in “a highly intensive and regimented residential program” for not less than three months, continued probation for six to twelve months with “highly structured restrictions on your activities and requirements for your behavior,” or commitment “to the juvenile detention unit of the Campbell County detention facility, county jail, for no more than six months.” In spite of the best efforts of the court, the transcript reflects little understanding by SWM regarding his rights or the significance of the charges he was facing. Ultimately, the court advised SWM that an attorney would be appointed to represent him, and entered a “denial” of the allegations on behalf of SWM.

[¶ 4] Counsel was appointed and shortly thereafter a “Motion to Suspend Proceedings for Evaluation under 7–11–303 and 14–6–219” was filed. As grounds for the motion, counsel asserted that he had developed concerns about SWM's “understanding of the proceedings and nature of the allegations against him based upon [his] age, development and nature of the charges against him.” The State did not object and the juvenile court granted the motion. The Order granting the motion reflects that the court determined that “Wyoming Statute § 7–11–303(b), (c), (d)et seq. and § 14–6–219 require an examination of the Minor for competency to proceed.” The Order specifically required that a written report of the examination be filed with the Clerk of Court pursuant to Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7–11–303(c) and Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 14–6–219 and that the report include the following:

I. Detailed findings.

II. An opinion as to whether the Minor has a mental illness or deficiency, and its probable durations.

III. An opinion as to whether the Minor, as a result of mental illness or deficiency, lacks the capacity to comprehend his position, to understand the nature and object of the proceedings against him, to conduct his defense in a rational manner, and to cooperate with his counsel to the end that any available defense may be interposed.

IV. A recommendation as to whether the Minor should be held in a designated facility for treatment pending determination by the Court of the issue of mental fitness to proceed.

V. A recommendation as to whether the Minor, if found by the Court to be mentally fit to proceed, should be detained in a designated facility pending further proceedings.

[¶ 5] Subsequently, SWM was evaluated as an outpatient by a forensic psychologist associated with the Wyoming State Hospital. Her Forensic Evaluation was filed with the court in June, 2012. The report noted that SWM had been in special education classes since he began school, and that a test given by the school had assessed his intelligence quotient at 71, indicating borderline intellectual functioning. She diagnosed SWM as displaying “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” as well as deficits in expressive language and language comprehension.

[¶ 6] With regard to his competency to proceed, and in compliance with the court Order, the psychologist provided conclusions regarding competency. In her report, the psychologist stated:

Conclusions Regarding Competency under W.S. § 14–6–219:

Although, [SWM] would not be expected to perform academically or cognitively at the level of an average 12-year-old, there is no information to support the involuntary commitment of this Minor. He is aware that he is in serious trouble and could be taken from his home. Thus, based on all

[299 P.3d 675]

available information, it is this examiner's opinion that [SWM], a child alleged to be delinquent, is not “suffering from mental illness or intellectual disability to a degree rendering [him] subject to involuntary commitment” and would, therefore, be deemed competent to proceed in juvenile court.

Conclusions Regarding Capacity to Proceed under W.S. § 7–11–303:

[SWM] is a 12-year-old male diagnosed with ADHD and an IQ of 71. He showed moderate to severe deficits in all four capacities required for fitness to proceed under W.S. § 7–11–303. Although it is possible with several months of remediation that he might attain the required factual capacities, it is unlikely that he could attain the required rational capacities in the foreseeable future. His deficits regarding rational capacities are likely directly related to his age (e.g., developmental immaturity, social immaturity) as well as his intellectual functioning, cognitive immaturity, and ADHD. Thus, it can be stated with a reasonable degree of psychological certainty that [SWM] does not have sufficient present capacity to comprehend his position, to understand the nature and object of the proceedings against him, to conduct his defense in a rational manner, and to cooperate with counsel to the end that any available defense may be interposed in adult criminal court. With time and formal education, [SWM] might be expected to attain these capacities in his late teens or early twenties.

[¶ 7] After the report was filed, the State filed a “Motion to Strike Portions of Evaluation Beyond the Scope of the Juvenile Justice Act.” In its motion the State asked the court to “strike all portions of the juvenile's forensic evaluation that were conducted pursuant to W.S. 7–11–303 as they are irrelevant to these proceedings.” SWM filed a resistance to the motion contending that failure to perform a proper competency evaluation impacted SWM's constitutional due process rights. SWM contended that Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 14–6–219 and the remainder of the Juvenile Justice Act were “silent on what constitutes competency in juvenile court,” and that competency should be determined in accordance with the standards set forth in Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 7–11–303.

[¶ 8] After a hearing, the juvenile court granted the motion. The juvenile court determined that it would not consider that portion of the psychologist's evaluation dealing with SWM's competency to stand trial as an adult criminal defendant. It explained in its “Order Determining the Court will Disregard the Portion of the Evaluation Concerning a Conclusion as to the Minor's Competency Pursuant to W.S. 7–11–303” that the statute is “clear and unambiguous” and applies “at any stage of a criminal proceeding. (Emphasis in original.) It continued that, “given the nature of juvenile proceedings (i.e. the fact they are special civil proceedings and not criminal proceedings) and the stated goals of juvenile proceedings (namely to provide treatment, training and rehabilitation for juvenile offenders), W.S. § 7–11–303 has no application in the case at bar and this determination does not amount to a denial of the Minor's due process rights.” In the Order, the court concluded that it would disregard that portion of the report entitled “Conclusions Regarding Capacity to Proceed under W.S. § 7–11–303.”

[¶ 9] In response, SWM sought a second competency evaluation and a hearing to determine competency. After a hearing, the district court denied the motion for a second competency evaluation and found that SWM was competent to proceed. The court explained in its order: “The Court having received and reviewed the Forensic Evaluation of the juvenile by the Wyoming State Hospital, finds that the juvenile does not suffer from a mental illness or intellectual disability to a degree [rendering] him subject to involuntary commitment at the Wyoming State Hospital or Wyoming Life Resource Center and is competent to proceed.” SWM filed a petition for writ of review with this Court, seeking review of the juvenile court's decision. We granted the petition. The proceedings below have been stayed pending our decision.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

[¶ 10] “The appellant's claim that his constitutional due process rights have been

[299 P.3d 676]

violated is reviewed de novo by this Court.” In re CT, 2006 WY 101, ¶ 8, 140 P.3d 643, 646 (Wyo.2006). With particular regard to the issues before us, we have said that “the standard of competency is ... a question of law which we review de novo. deShazer v. State, 2003 WY 98, ¶ 12, 74 P.3d 1240, 1244–45 (Wyo.2003),...

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  • Vaughn v. State
    • United States
    • Wyoming Supreme Court
    • 9 Marzo 2017
    ...and the requirement that charges against them must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt."SWM v. State, 2013 WY 49, ¶ 14, 299 P.3d 673, 677 (Wyo. 2013) (citing Wyo. Stat. Ann. §§ 14-6-222, -223, and - 225). While the WJJA "does not explicitly address the question, we have recognized that doub......
  • In re Interest of J.K., 14–0852.
    • United States
    • Iowa Court of Appeals
    • 14 Octubre 2015
    ...the due process right not to be adjudicated delinquent unless they are competent. But many state courts have done so. See SWM v. State, 299 P.3d 673, 676 (Wyo.2013) (collecting cases).In the only Iowa appellate case addressing competency to stand trial in a delinquency proceeding, our court......
  • State v. Victor L. (In re Interest of Victor L.)
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    • Nebraska Supreme Court
    • 23 Abril 2021
    ...et al., supra note 4.17 See id.18 See, e.g., In re Albert C. , 3 Cal. 5th 483, 397 P.3d 240, 219 Cal. Rptr. 3d 897 (2017) ; SWM v. State , 299 P.3d 673 (Wyo. 2013) ; In re T.S. , 798 N.W.2d 649 (N.D. 2011) ; In re K.G. , 808 N.E.2d 631 (Ind. 2004) ; In re J.M. , 172 Vt. 61, 769 A.2d 656 (20......

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