State v. Heddrick

¶1 —A defendant’s competency is a necessary prerequisite for a fair criminal trial. Chapter 10.77 RCW outlines procedures courts must follow once any reason to doubt a defendant’s competency arises before a trial judge. Steven Ray Heddrick, Jr., challenges the trial court’s failure to follow statutory procedures in finding him competent to stand trial in felony prosecutions for harassment and custodial assault. Following the statute, the trial court ordered two psychological examinations but did not enter either examination into evidence. Instead, the court found *901Heddrick competent after…