WASHINGTON, June 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 Thursday the states can ban mentally ill defendants from representing themselves.
The decision affects those competent enough to stand trial but not competent enough to mount an effective defense. The case began when Ahmad Edwards tried to steal a pair of shoes from an Indiana department store. He drew a gun when the attempt was discovered, started shooting and wounded a bystander.
A state judge denied his request to represent himself at trial, citing lengthy psychiatric reports that showed Edwards had schizophrenia and though competent to stand trial, was not competent to defend himself.
Represented by an appointed lawyer, Edwards was convicted on two counts.
An Indiana appeals court agreed Edwards should have been able to represent himself and ordered a new trial, saying he had the right under the Sixth Amendment. When the Indiana Supreme Court agreed, the state took the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Justice Stephen Breyer, writing for the majority, said the justices "conclude that the Constitution permits judges to take realistic account of the particular defendant's mental capacities by asking whether a defendant who seeks to conduct his own defense at trial is mentally competent to do so."
The ruling throws out the state court verdict and sends it back down for a new verdict based on the high court opinion.
(No. 07-208, Indiana vs. Edwards)
