A juvenile delinquency petition was filed against 26-year old Tyrone B., alleging that he violated the law nine years prior, when he was still a minor. During Tyrone B.’s detention hearing, his attorney requested that a doctor be appointed to evaluate Tyrone B.’s competency. Defense counsel explained that his client appeared not to have a “complete or even near complete grasp” of court processes, participants, or potential ramifications.
The juvenile court denied the request, finding that it had to be determined first whether Tyrone was to be tried as a juvenile or as an adult, because there were differences between juvenile and adult competency proceedings. Accordingly, the court ruled that Tyrone B.’s fitness hearing had to precede any competency proceeding.
