Several cases remain on hold pending competency and psychological evaluations, court hears

Judge Stephanie Boyd paused several matters after defense counsel and court staff said competency or other psychological evaluations were either underway or not yet completed.

Defense counsel and staff reported that several defendants are awaiting examinations or reports from court‑appointed evaluators. For example, the judge was told that Adrian Holmes had been seen by a doctor and the court was waiting for a written report; the judge recalled Holmes' matter to July 15. For Jonathan Allen the court recorded an outstanding competency evaluation that had not been completed; the judge asked clerks to contact the evaluation unit for status and set a follow‑up. Richard Cantu also was reported to have completed evaluations with the court awaiting final reports; the court set a July 21 recall for that matter.

Judge Boyd explained the statutory requirement to halt normal proceedings when a competency concern is raised: “Once there is a concern on whether somebody is competent or not, we have to stop everything,” she told a defendant who asked when his matter would proceed. The judge asked court coordinators to confirm when evaluations would be filed so the court could schedule the next appearance.

Defense counsel described delays in getting evaluator interviews completed and in receiving written reports; the court asked Norma to email the relevant unit and to bring evaluations to the next hearing when available. Where evaluations were complete, the court scheduled short recalls to allow counsel and the court to review the reports and determine whether proceedings can resume or further services are required.

The court emphasized that competency evaluations slow case processing because a licensed evaluator must assess the defendant’s current capacity to understand charges and assist counsel; only when the evaluator files a written report may the court resume scheduling for trial or plea negotiations.