Holmes v. Levenhagen

Dist. Ct. erred in finding that defendant was competent to assist his lawyers in prosecuting his habeas petition challenging his murder conviction and death sentence. Defendant's diagnosis of schizophrenia, as well as his documented symptoms of delusions and hallucinations, essentially prevented defendant from communicating meaningfully with his lawyers. As such, defendant's habeas proceedings (along with his death sentence) were required to be suspended until govt. provides new evidence that defendant's psychiatric illness has abated sufficiently so as to allow defendant to meaningfully communicate with his attorneys.