Gonzales v. State

in which MEYERS, WOMACK, JOHNSON, KEASLER, HERVEY, HOLCOMB, and COCHRAN, JJ„ joined.

Today we confront the following question: Must a trial judge conduct a competency hearing on his own initiative after hearing evidence that, due to alcohol or drug abuse, the defendant suffered amnesia with respect to events giving rise to the charged offense? We answer that question, “No.”

I. BACKGROUND

Appellant shot and killed a friend at a graduation party. Both appellant and his friend were intoxicated at the time. Appellant was found guilty of murdering his friend. At the punishment stage of trial,…