People v. Morton

Yesawich, Jr., J.,

dissents and votes to reverse in a memorandum. Yesawich, Jr., J. (dissenting). I respectfully dissent.

As noted by the majority, a court deciding whether a defendant is competent to stand trial must weigh a variety of factors (see generally, People v Picozzi, 106 AD2d 413, 414), no one of which is determinative. Psychiatric evaluations brought before the court unquestionably must be taken into account. Blind obeisance by the hearing court to psychiatrists’ pronouncements, however, is inappropriate (see, People v Grisset, 118 Misc 2d 450, 453; People v Valentino, 78 Misc 2d…