R.C.M. 909 — Capacity of the accused to stand trial by court-martial

Chapter IX · Trial Procedures Through Findings

R.C.M. 909. Capacity of the accused to stand trial by court-martial

2024 Manual for Courts-Martial, United States

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(a) In general. No person may be brought to trial by court-martial if that person is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him or her mentally incompetent to the extent that he or she is unable to understand the nature of the proceedings against them or to conduct or cooperate intelligently in the defense of the case.

Discussion

See also R.C.M. 916(k).

(b) Presumption of capacity. A person is presumed to have the capacity to stand trial unless the contrary is established.

(1) For offenses over which special trial counsel has not exercised authority or has deferred, if an inquiry pursuant to R.C.M. 706 conducted before referral concludes that an accused is suffering from a mental disease or defect that renders him or her mentally incompetent to stand trial, the convening authority before whom the charges are pending for disposition may disagree with the conclusion and take any action authorized under R.C.M. 401, including referral of the charges to trial. If that convening authority concurs with the conclusion, the convening authority shall forward the charges to the general court-martial convening authority. If, upon receipt of the charges, the general court-martial convening authority similarly concurs, then the general court-martial convening authority shall commit the accused to the custody of the Attorney General. If the general court-martial convening authority does not concur, that authority may take any action that he or she deems appropriate in accordance with R.C.M. 407, including referral of the charges to trial.

(2) For offenses over which special trial counsel has exercised authority and has not deferred, if an inquiry pursuant to R.C.M. 706 conducted before referral concludes that an accused is suffering from a mental disease or defect that renders him or her mentally incompetent to stand trial, the general court-martial convening authority may disagree with the conclusion and notify special trial counsel who may take any action authorized under R.C.M. 401A, including referral of charges. If the general court-martial convening authority concurs with the conclusion, that authority shall notify special trial counsel and commit the accused to the custody of the Attorney General.

(3) Upon request of the Government or the accused, a military judge may conduct a hearing to determine the mental capacity of the accused in accordance with R.C.M. 309 and R.C.M. 909(e) at any time prior to referral.

(d) Determination after referral. After referral, the military judge may conduct a hearing to determine the mental capacity of the accused, either sua sponte or upon request of either party. If an inquiry pursuant to R.C.M. 706 conducted before or after referral concludes that an accused is suffering from a mental disease or defect that renders him or her mentally incompetent to stand trial, the military judge shall conduct a hearing to determine the mental capacity of the accused. Any such hearing shall be conducted in accordance with subsection (e) of this rule.

(e) Incompetence determination hearing.

(1) Nature of issue. The mental capacity of the accused is an interlocutory question of fact.

(2) Standard. Trial may proceed unless it is established by a preponderance of the evidence that the accused is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him or her mentally incompetent to the extent that he or she is unable to understand the nature of the proceedings or to conduct or cooperate intelligently in the defense of the case. In making this determination, the military judge is not bound by the rules of evidence except with respect to privileges.

(3) If the military judge finds the accused is incompetent to stand trial, the judge shall report this finding to the general court-martial convening authority, who shall commit the accused to the custody of the Attorney General.

(f) Hospitalization of the accused. An accused who is found incompetent to stand trial under this rule shall be hospitalized by the Attorney General as provided in subsection 4241(d) of title 18, United States Code. If notified that the accused has recovered to such an extent that he or she is able to understand the nature of the proceedings and to conduct or cooperate intelligently in the defense of the case, then the general court-martial convening authority shall promptly take custody of the accused. If, at the end of the period of hospitalization, the accused’s mental condition has not so improved, action shall be taken in accordance with section 4246 of title 18, United States Code.

Discussion

Under 18 U.S.C. § 4241(d), the initial period of hospitalization for an incompetent accused shall not exceed four months. However, in determining whether there is a substantial probability the accused will attain the capacity to permit the trial to proceed in the foreseeable future, the accused may be hospitalized for an additional reasonable period of time. This additional period of time ends either when the accused’s mental condition is improved so that trial may proceed, or when the pending charges against the accused are dismissed. If charges are dismissed solely due to the accused’s mental condition, the accused is subject to hospitalization as provided in 18 U.S.C. §4246.

(g) Excludable delay. All periods of commitment shall be excluded as provided by R.C.M. 707(c). The 120- day time period under R.C.M. 707 shall begin anew on the date the general court-martial convening authority takes custody of the accused at the end of any period of commitment. For offenses over which a special trial counsel has exercised authority and not deferred, the general court-martial convening authority shall immediately notify a special trial counsel in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned.