Has anyone recently faced Dr. Jerome Brown and/or Dr. Ramon Laval as defense experts re a defendant's competency to stand trial? They are hired guns in one of our upcoming compentency jury trials. We anticipate that they will opine that the defendant (charged with indecency with a child) is mentally retarded and therefore will never be competent to stand trial. Also, any tips from someone who has tried a competency trial based upon a defendant's mental retardation would be helpful. Thanks and Merry Christmas!

Doctors can be checked out at http://www.tsbme.state.tx.us/. I have done a couple of competency hearings. One was contested. It became apparent during voir dire that the venire really wanted to hear from an independent doctor. Therefore, make sure that they know that the court appointed doctor is an independent doctor.