Rafael Heribe Avilesrosario v. State

A bedrock principle of due process is that it is constitutionally impermissible to hold criminal proceedings against a mentally incompetent defendant. Where there is a reasonable question as to a defendant’s competency, the trial court must hold a competency'hearing. In the present case, just prior to the commencement of appellant’s trial, his defense counsel requested such a hearing, noting appellant’s prior mental illness, his recent suicide attempt, and her inability to communicate with appellant. Despite this, the court thought that appellant “looks the same as he has always looked to…