Melvin W. Greer v. Dr. George J. Beto, Director, Texas Department of Corrections

There are three overlapping issues in this case — the adequacy of a pre-trial determination of competence to stand trial, the right to effective representation by counsel at the pre-trial sanity hearing, and the right to such counsel at the trial itself. The majority have dealt effectively with the third issue only.

In view of appellant’s long history of mental and nervous disorders while in the armed services, in Veterans’ Administration hospitals, and in correctional institutions, he was entitled under Pate v. Robinson, 383 U.S. 375, 86 S.Ct. 836, 15 L.Ed.2d 815 (1966) to an adequate…