In re the Personal Restraint of Jian Liu

¶1 This case presents a question of first impression in Washington: whether an alleged fugitive must be competent to participate in an interstate extradition proceeding. We conclude that due process and the right *486to counsel under the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act, chapter 10.88 RCW, demand that a person be sufficiently competent to communicate and assist counsel with the limited defenses available in such a proceeding. Here, though petitioner Jian Liu presented evidence raising questions about her competency, the trial court denied her motion to stay the proceeding pending a determination…