State Of Washington, V Christopher Lyons

¶1 We are asked to decide whether a criminal defendant facing involuntary medication to restore competency to stand trial has a procedural due process right to present an expert in his own defense. Christopher Lyons appeals the trial court’s order authorizing involuntary medication, arguing that he was denied due process when the trial court did not allow him to obtain his own expert. We hold that a criminal defendant has a procedural due process right to present a complete defense. In some cases, the right to present a complete defense includes obtaining an expert to present admissible,…