Cal. R. 4.130

As amended through July 24, 2024

Rule 4.130 - Mental competency proceedings

(a)Application

(1) This rule applies to proceedings in the superior court under Penal Code section 1367 et seq. to determine the mental competency of a criminal defendant.

(2) The requirements of subdivision (d)(2) apply only to a formal competency evaluation ordered by the court under Penal Code section 1369(a).

(3) The requirements of subdivision (d)(2) do not apply to a brief preliminary 36 evaluation of the defendant's competency if:

(A) The parties stipulate to a brief preliminary evaluation; and

(B) The court orders the evaluation in accordance with a local rule of court that specifies the content of the evaluation and the procedure for its preparation and submission to the court.

(Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2018.)

(b)Initiation of mental competency proceedings

(1) The court must initiate mental competency proceedings if the judge has a reasonable doubt, based on substantial evidence, about the defendant's competence to stand trial.

(2) The opinion of counsel, without a statement of specific reasons supporting that opinion, does not constitute substantial evidence. The court may allow defense counsel to present his or her opinion regarding the defendant's mental competency in camera if the court finds there is reason to believe that attorney-client privileged information will be inappropriately revealed if the hearing is conducted in open court.

(3) In a felony case, if the judge initiates mental competency proceedings prior to the preliminary examination, counsel for the defendant may request a preliminary examination as provided in Penal Code section 1368.1(a)(1), or counsel for the People may request a determination of probable cause as provided in Penal Code section 1368.1(a)(2) and rule 4.131.

(Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2020.)

(c)Effect of initiating mental competency proceedings

(1) If mental competency proceedings are initiated, criminal proceedings are suspended and may not be reinstated until a trial on the competency of the defendant has been concluded and the defendant is found mentally competent at a trial conducted under Penal Code section 1369, at a hearing conducted under Penal Code section 1370(a)(1)(G), or at a hearing following a certification of restoration under Penal Code section 1372.

(2) In misdemeanor cases, speedy trial requirements are tolled during the suspension of criminal proceedings for mental competency evaluation and trial. If criminal proceedings are later reinstated and time is not waived, the trial must be commenced within 30 days after the reinstatement of the criminal proceedings, as provided by Penal Code section 1382(a)(3).

(3) In felony cases, speedy trial requirements are tolled during the suspension of criminal proceedings for mental competency evaluation and trial. If criminal proceedings are reinstated, unless time is waived, time periods to commence the preliminary examination or trial are as follows:

(A) If criminal proceedings were suspended before the preliminary hearing had been conducted, the preliminary hearing must be commenced within 10 days of the reinstatement of the criminal proceedings, as provided in Penal Code section 859b.

(B) If criminal proceedings were suspended after the preliminary hearing had been conducted, the trial must be commenced within 60 days of the reinstatement of the criminal proceedings, as provided in Penal Code section 1382(a)(2).

(Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2020.)

(d)Examination of defendant after initiation of mental competency proceedings

(1) On initiation of mental competency proceedings, the court must inquire whether the defendant, or defendant's counsel, seeks a finding of mental incompetence.

(2) Any court-appointed experts must examine the defendant and advise the court on the defendant's competency to stand trial. Experts' reports are to be submitted to the court, counsel for the defendant, and the prosecution. The report must include the following:

(A) A brief statement of the examiner's training and previous experience as it relates to examining the competence of a criminal defendant to stand trial and preparing a resulting report;

(B) A summary of the examination conducted by the examiner on the defendant, including a summary of the defendant's mental status, a diagnosis under the most recent version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, if possible, of the defendant's current mental health disorder or disorders, and a statement as to whether symptoms of the mental health disorder or disorders which motivated the defendant's behavior would respond to mental health treatment;

(C) A detailed analysis of the competence of the defendant to stand trial using California's current legal standard, including the defendant's ability or inability to understand the nature of the criminal proceedings or assist counsel in the conduct of a defense in a rational manner as a result of a mental health disorder;

(D) A summary of an assessment-conducted for malingering or feigning symptoms, if clinically indicated-which may include, but need not be limited to, psychological testing;

(E) Under Penal Code section 1369, a statement on whether treatment with antipsychotic or other medication is medically appropriate for the defendant, and whether the defendant has capacity to make decisions regarding antipsychotic or other medication as outlined in Penal Code section 1370. If a licensed psychologist examines the defendant and opines that treatment with antipsychotic medication may be appropriate, the psychologist's opinion must be based on whether the defendant has a mental disorder that is typically known to benefit from that treatment. A licensed psychologist's opinion must not exceed the scope of their license. If a psychiatrist examines the defendant and opines that treatment with antipsychotic medication is appropriate, the psychiatrist must inform the court of their opinion as to the likely or potential side effects of the medication, the expected efficacy of the medication, and possible alternative treatments, as outlined in Penal Code section 1370;

(F) A list of all sources of information considered by the examiner, including legal, medical, school, military, regional center, employment, hospital, and psychiatric records; the evaluations of other experts; the results of psychological testing; police reports; criminal history; statement of the defendant; statements of any witnesses to the alleged crime; booking information, mental health screenings, and mental health records following the alleged crime; consultation with the prosecutor and defendant's attorney; and any other collateral sources considered by the examiner in reaching a conclusion;

(G) If the defendant is charged with a felony offense, a recommendation, if possible, for a placement or type of placement or treatment program that is most appropriate for restoring the defendant to competency; and

(H) If the defendant is charged only with a misdemeanor offense, an opinion based on present clinical impressions and available historical data as to whether the defendant, regardless of custody status, appears to be gravely disabled, as defined in Welfare and Institutions Code section 5008(h)(1)(A).

(3) Statements made by the defendant during the examination to experts appointed under this rule, and products of any such statements, may not be used in a trial on the issue of the defendant's guilt or in a sanity trial should defendant enter a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.

(Subd (d) amended effective May 13, 2022; previously amended effective January 1, 2018, January 1, 2020, and September 1, 2020, and May 13, 2022.)

(e)Trial on mental competency

(1) Regardless of the conclusions or findings of the court-appointed expert, the court must conduct a trial on the mental competency of the defendant if the court has initiated mental competency proceedings under (b).

(2) At the trial, the defendant is presumed to be mentally competent, and it is the burden of the party contending that the defendant is not mentally competent to prove the defendant's mental incompetence by a preponderance of the evidence.

(3) In addition to the testimony of the experts appointed by the court under (d), either party may call additional experts or other relevant witnesses.

(4) After the presentation of the evidence and closing argument, the trier of fact is to determine whether the defendant is mentally competent or mentally incompetent.

(A) If the matter is tried by a jury, the verdict must be unanimous.

(B) If the parties have waived the right to a jury trial, the court's findings must be made in writing or placed orally in the record.

(f)Posttrial procedure

(1) If the defendant is found mentally competent, the court must reinstate the criminal proceedings.

(2) If the defendant in a felony case is found to be mentally incompetent under section 1370 or the defendant in any criminal action is found to be mentally incompetent under section 1370.1 due to a developmental disability, the criminal proceedings remain suspended and the court either:

(A) Must issue an order committing the person for restoration treatment under the provisions of the governing statute; or

(B) In the case of a person eligible for commitment under section 1370, if the person is found incompetent due to a mental disorder, may consider placing the person on a program of diversion under section 1001.36 in lieu of commitment.

(3) If the defendant is found to be mentally incompetent in a misdemeanor case under section 1370.01, the criminal proceedings remain suspended, and the court may dismiss the case under section 1385 or conduct a hearing to consider placing the person on a program of diversion under section 1001.36.

(Subd (f) amended effective May 13, 2022; previously amended effective January 1, 2020.)

(g)Reinstatement of felony proceedings under section 1001.36(g)

If a defendant eligible for commitment under section 1370 is granted diversion under section 1001.36, and during the period of diversion the court determines that criminal proceedings should be reinstated under section 1001.36(g), the court must, under section 1369, appoint a psychiatrist, licensed psychologist, or any other expert the court may deem appropriate, to examine the defendant and return a report, opining on the defendant's competence to stand trial. The expert's report must be provided to counsel for the People and to the defendant's counsel.

(1) On receipt of the evaluation report, the court must conduct an inquiry into the defendant's current competency, under the procedures set forth in (h)(2) of this rule.

(2) If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is mentally competent, the court must hold a hearing as set forth in Penal Code section 1001.36(g).

(3) If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is mentally incompetent, criminal proceedings must remain suspended, and the court must order that the defendant be committed and placed for restoration treatment.

(4) If the court concludes, based on substantial evidence, that the defendant is mentally incompetent and is not likely to attain competency within the time remaining before the defendant's maximum date for returning to court, and has reason to believe the defendant may be gravely disabled, within the meaning of Welfare and Institutions Code section 5008(h)(1), the court may, instead of issuing a commitment order under section 1370, refer the matter to the conservatorship investigator of the county of commitment to initiate conservatorship proceedings for the defendant under Welfare and Institutions Code section 5350 et seq.

(Subd (g) amended effective May 13, 2022; adopted effective January 1, 2020; previously amended effective September 1, 2020, and May 13, 2022.)

(h)Posttrial hearings on competence under section 1370

(1) If, at any time after the court has declared a defendant incompetent to stand trial, and counsel for the defendant, or a jail medical or mental health staff provider, provides the court with substantial evidence that the defendant's psychiatric symptoms have changed to such a degree as to create a doubt in the mind of the judge as to the defendant's current mental incompetence, the court may appoint a psychiatrist or a licensed psychologist to examine the defendant and, in an examination with the court, opine as to whether the defendant has regained competence.

(2) On receipt of an evaluation report under (h)(1) or an evaluation by the State Department of State Hospitals under Welfare and Institutions Code section 4335.2, the court must direct the clerk to serve a copy on counsel for the People and counsel for the defendant. If, in the opinion of the appointed expert or the department's expert, the defendant has regained competence, the court must conduct a hearing as if a certificate of restoration of competence had been filed under section 1372(a)(1). At the hearing, the court may consider any evidence, presented by any party, that is relevant to the question of the defendant's current mental competency.

(A) At the conclusion of the hearing, if the court finds that it has been established by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is mentally competent, the court must reinstate criminal proceedings.

(B) At the conclusion of the hearing, if the court finds that it has not been established by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is mentally competent criminal proceedings must remain suspended.

(C) The court's findings on the defendant's mental competency must be stated on the record and recorded in the minutes.

(Subd (h) amended effective May 13, 2022; adopted effective January 1, 20202020; previously amended effective May 13, 2022.)

Cal. R. Ct. 4.130

Rule 4.130 amended effective 5/15/2023; amended effective 5/13/2022; amended effective 9/1/2020; amended effective 1/1/2020; amended effective 1/1/2018; adopted effective 1/1/2007.

Advisory Committee Comment

The case law interpreting Penal Code section 1367 et seq. established a procedure for judges to follow in cases where there is a concern whether the defendant is legally competent to stand trial, but the concern does not necessarily rise to the level of a reasonable doubt based on substantial evidence. Before finding a reasonable doubt as to the defendant's competency to stand trial and initiating competency proceedings under Penal Code section 1368 et seq., the court may appoint an expert to assist the court in determining whether such a reasonable doubt exists. As noted in People v. Visciotti (1992) 2 Cal.4th 1, 34-36, the court may appoint an expert when it is concerned about the mental competency of the defendant, but the concern does not rise to the level of a reasonable doubt, based on substantial evidence, required by Penal Code section 1367 et seq. Should the results of this examination present substantial evidence of mental incompetency, the court must initiate competency proceedings under (b).

Once mental competency proceedings under Penal Code section 1367 et seq. have been initiated, the court is to appoint at least one expert to examine the defendant under (d). Under no circumstances is the court obligated to appoint more than two experts. (Pen. Code, Section 1369(a).) The costs of the experts appointed under (d) are to be paid for by the court as the expert examinations and reports are for the benefit or use of the court in determining whether the defendant is mentally incompetent. (See Cal. Rules of Court, rule 10.810, function 10.)

Subdivision (d)(3), which provides that the defendant's statements made during the examination cannot be used in a trial on the defendant's guilt or a sanity trial in a not guilty by reason of sanity trial, is based on the California Supreme Court holdings in People v. Arcega (1982) 32 Cal.3d 504 and People v. Weaver (2001) 26 Cal.4th 876.

Although the court is not obligated to appoint additional experts, counsel may nonetheless retain their own experts to testify at a trial on the defendant's competency. (See People v. Mayes (1988) 202 Cal.App.4th 908, 917-918.) These experts are not for the benefit or use of the court, and their costs are not to be paid by the court. (See Cal. Rules of Court, rule 10.810, function 10.)

Both the prosecution and the defense have the right to a jury trial. (See People v. Superior Court (McPeters) (1995) 169 Cal.App.3d 796.) Defense counsel may waive this right, even over the objection of the defendant. (People v. Masterson (1994) 8 Cal.4th 965, 970.)

Either defense counsel or the prosecution (or both) may argue that the defendant is not competent to stand trial. (People v. Stanley (1995) 10 Cal.4th 764, 804 [defense counsel may advocate that defendant is not competent to stand trial and may present evidence of defendant's mental incompetency regardless of defendant's desire to be found competent].) If the defense declines to present evidence of the defendant's mental incompetency, the prosecution may do so. (Pen. Code, Section 1369(b)(2).) If the prosecution elects to present evidence of the defendant's mental incompetency, it is the prosecution's burden to prove the incompetency by a preponderance of the evidence. (People v. Mixon (1990) 225 Cal.App.3d 1471, 1484, fn. 12.)

Should both parties decline to present evidence of defendant's mental incompetency, the court may do so. In those cases, the court is not to instruct the jury that a party has the burden of proof. "Rather, the proper approach would be to instruct the jury on the legal standard they are to apply to the evidence before them without allocating the burden of proof to one party or the other." (People v. Sherik (1991) 229 Cal.App.3d 444, 459-460.)