State v. Curtis

GILDEA, Chief Justice.

The question presented in this case is whether the State or the defendant bears the burden of proving in a criminal case that the defendant is competent. The district court determined that appellant Edwin Thomas Curtis was mentally competent to proceed to trial. Following a stipulated-facts trial, the court convicted Curtis of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. On appeal, Curtis challenged the district court's competency determination, arguing that the court failed to place the burden of proof on the State as required by State v. Ganpat , 732 N.W.2d 232 (Minn. 2007).…