IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA

ROBERT IRA PEEDE,

Petitioner,

vs. CASE NO. SC03-1443Lower Tribunal No. CF83-1682

STATE OF FLORIDA,

Respondent._________________________/

RESPONSE TO PETITION FOR EXTRAORDINARY RELIEFAND MOTION TO DISMISS

INTRODUCTION

COMES NOW the Respondent, STATE OF FLORIDA, by and through

the undersigned Assistant Attorney General, and moves to dismiss

the instant Petition. Petitioner Peede is appealing an Order

finding that he is competent to proceed. However, that Order

was rendered as an interlocutory ruling, and should be reviewed

only at the conclusion of the postconviction proceedings which

are still being conducted in the circuit court below.

Therefore, this appeal should be dismissed as premature.

PROCEDURAL POSTURE AND FACTS

Petitioner Peede was convicted of the first degree murder

of Darla Peede and sentenced to death in 1984. On appeal, this

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Court provided the following summary of facts:

Intent on getting Darla to come back to North Carolinawith him to act as a decoy to lure his former wifeGeraldine and her boyfriend Calvin Wagner to a motelwhere he could kill them, Peede, on March 30, 1983,traveled from Hillsboro, North Carolina, toJacksonville, Florida, on his motorcycle. He sold hismotorcycle near Ormond Beach, took a cab to theairport, and flew to Miami. He attempted to callDarla at her daughter’s residence several times, eachtime speaking with Darla’s daughter Tanya becauseDarla was not at home. At 5:15 p.m., he called backand spoke with Darla who agreed to pick him up at theairport. Prior to leaving for the airport, however,Darla left very strict instructions with Tanya to callthe police if she was not back by midnight and to givethem the license plate number of her car because shemay have been forced into the car. She was afraid ofbeing taken back to North Carolina and being put withthe other people he had threatened to kill. She gaveTanya the telephone numbers of Geraldine and thepolice in Hillsboro, North Carolina. She left herresidence with only her purse and took no otherbelongings that would evidence her intention not toreturn home that evening. Although she would normallycall Tanya if she were going somewhere and not comingback for the evening, Tanya received no such call.

According to Peede, when Darla picked him up at theairport, she informed him that she planned to go backto her apartment and then to the beach the next day.He then directed her to drive north on Interstate 95,but, after gassing up Darla’s car, they mistakenly goton the turnpike heading for Orlando. As they left theMiami area and the song “Swinging” came on the radio,Peede took his lock-blade knife and inflicted asuperficial cut in Darla’s side. In his confession,Peede described his belief that Darla and Geraldinehad mutually advertised for sexual partners in anationally publicized, pictorial “Swinger” magazinewhich he had seen while imprisoned in California.

Peede said that on the way to Orlando they stopped andpicked up a hitchhiker who drove the car while theyhad intercourse in the back seat. The hitchhiker was

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dropped off in Orlando and Peede drove east on I-4toward Daytona Beach. As they drove, the conversationagain returned to the subject of Peede’s belief thatGeraldine and Darla had advertised in “Swinger”magazine. Approximately five to six miles outside ofOrlando, Peede stopped the car on the shoulder of theroad, jumped into the back seat, and, with his lock-blade hunting knife, stabbed Darla in the throat whichresulted in her bleeding to death within five tofifteen minutes. Still determined to get back toNorth Carolina to kill Geraldine and Calvin, heproceeded up I-95. He left Darla’s body in a woodedarea in Camden, Georgia, and he threw the murderweapon out of the car window on his way to NorthCarolina. When he returned to his home in Hillsboro,North Carolina, he decided that he would killGeraldine and Calvin while they were on their way towork. He loaded his shotgun and placed it beside thedoor. Before he could carry out his plan, the policearrived, and he was arrested. Darla’s heavilybloodstained car was parked at his residence. Inaddition to his lengthier confession to theauthorities, Peede wrote out and had witnessed thefollowing short confession:

My name is Robert Peede, on March 31, 1983, Ikilled my wife Darla, by stabbing her in the neckwith a Puma folding knife. This occurred on Hwy.4 (interstate) about six miles east of OrlandoFla., in the back seat of Darla’s 71 Buick.

I ask for the death penalty in this crime, to becarried out as soon as possible.

Robert Peede

D.O.B. 6-30-44

Darla’s body was found in the woods. She had a stabwound in the throat area which continued into thechest and into the superior vena cavae, a second stabwound nine inches below her shoulder in her side, andbruising on various parts of her legs and arms whichthe medical examiner characterized as defensivebruising. The contusions on her wrists evidenced astruggle.

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Peede was convicted of first-degree murder. The juryrecommended that the death penalty be imposed, and thetrial court sentenced him to death.

Peede v. State, 474 So. 2d 808, 809-810 (Fla. 1985).

The trial court summarily denied a motion for postconviction

relief and that decision was appealed to this Court. This Court

reversed the trial court’s summary denial and remanded for an

evidentiary hearing on four issues. The issues this Court

stated required factual development during an evidentiary

hearing were as follows: 1) a Brady claim regarding whether the

State had possession of the victim’s diary and whether Peede’s

counsel had access to it; 2) whether the State improperly

withheld evidence establishing Peede’s longstanding mental

illness; 3) whether counsel was ineffective for failing to

present issues surrounding Peede’s competency and; 4) whether

Peede received an inadequate mental health evaluation and

whether counsel was ineffective in failing to argue additional

statutory mitigation and present witnesses to document Peede’s

alleged history of abuse, bizarre behavior, and manifestations

of mental illness. Peede v. State, 748 So. 2d 253, 257-259

(Fla. 1999).

On remand to the circuit court, Peede’s evidentiary hearing

has been delayed by questions of representation and change of

counsel due to conflict. And, as relevant here, the hearing has

1Dr. Fisher was retained by CCRC to examine Mr. Peede andadmitted that almost all of his work in criminal cases has beenfor the defense. (PA-B, 23-24).

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been delayed due to the issue of Peede’s competence. On March

24, 2000, counsel for CCRC requested a competency examination of

Mr. Peede. Thereafter, the circuit court appointed mental

health experts to examine Peede. On May 24, 2000, the court

conducted a competency hearing, and heard testimony from two

experts retained by the defense and two experts appointed by the

court. The two experts retained by the defense1 testified that

Peede was not competent to proceed based upon his apparent

inability to discuss the details surrounding the murder of his

ex-wife, Darla. (Petitioner’s Attachment [hereinafter, PA] B at

28).

Peede allowed himself to be interviewed with Dr. Fisher, an

expert retained by his counsel. Dr. Fisher found Peede to be of

average intelligence and “he was in general cooperative.” (PA-B

at 26). He found nothing remarkable, Peede was not

schizophrenic or overtly impaired or retarded. (PA-B at 27).

Nonetheless, Dr. Fisher found Peede was not competent because he

would not discuss the details surrounding the murder with him.

(PA-B, 28). When Dr. Fisher attempted to discuss the facts with

Peede he would become emotional to the point that Dr. Fisher

felt if he pursued it further he was risking termination of the

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interview. (PA-B at 28). Peede would not talk about the “inner

workings of that himself at the time of the crime for which he

is incarcerated.” (PA-B at 28-29). Dr. Fisher had no

explanation for Peede’s refusal to talk about the event: “I

didn’t have a good explanation for that inability; that I

perceived he’s got the brain power, the, probably has the memory

but he couldn’t do it.” (PA-B, 29).

Dr. Fisher testified that Peede could not talk about what

happened with Darla in the car, but did have a competent

understanding of other issues in the case, and, for example was

able to express his displeasure with counsel for CCRC for

failing to cancel the transport order when a scheduled hearing

was cancelled. (PA-B at 29-30). Dr. Fisher concluded that

Peede was incompetent in that he did not have the ability to

“speak to his attorneys about the particulars of the case,

meaning what happened in the car with Darla, nor has he talked

to Dr. Teich or myself in the effort to get information about

that same area.” (PA-B at 31). However, in the other areas,

Peede did “understand what these proceedings are, what the

proceedings are against him. He knows what he’s accused of, he

knows when it happened, he knows what the sanctions are. So he

does know those things.” (PA-B at 31).

On cross-examination, Dr. Fisher acknowledged that he did

7

not find any overt signs of any neurological condition. Dr.

Fisher added, however, that any time you have a problem with

memory and it is not amnesia “that looks like a mental problem

in that circumscribed area.” (PA-B at 32). Dr. Fisher found

that Peede suffered from major memory disturbance and “he has

depression.” (PA-B at 32). Dr. Fisher acknowledged that the

DOC records reveal repeated instances of Peede failing to

cooperate with authorities in the medical context. (PA-B at 32).

So, as part of his personality, he will refuse to cooperate.

Id. At other times, however, Peede will cooperate for medical

procedures as he did in receiving an operation for hemorrhoids.

(PA-B at 32-33). Dr. Fisher had difficulty reconciling the fact

that during the Nelson inquiry Peede apparently had the ability

to discuss events on the day of Darla’s murder, specifically,

regarding his allegation that he and Darla picked up a

hitchhiker. (PA-B at 34). Dr. Fisher acknowledged that the

objective testing he conducted did not reveal any problem or

defect that would explain why Peede would not talk about what

happened in the car with Darla. (PA-B at 36-37). Dr. Fisher

was aware that the court appointed two other experts to examine

Mr. Peede and that he refused to even see them. (PA-B at 37).

That was a factor which might indicate Peede is malingering on

this issue. (PA-B at 37-38).

2Respondent’s Exhibit A is the State’s response to thesecond request for a competency evaluation of Mr. Peede. Thisresponse was not attached to Peede’s Petition nor was the secondreport of Dr. Berns, finding Peede competent to proceed.

8

Petitioner correctly points out that Peede would not agree

to be interviewed by the two court appointed doctors and that

they could not render an opinion on competency for that reason.

(Petition at 4-5). Petitioner, however, neglects to mention

that one court appointed doctor, Dr. Berns, subsequently

reviewed a videotaped interview conducted by a defense doctor,

and, from his review of the records and that video, concluded

that Peede was indeed, competent to proceed. (RA-A2 at 16-19).

On June 22, 2000, the trial court found Peede competent to

proceed. (RA-B).

Dr. Eric Mings made two attempts to talk with Mr. Peede but

was informed that Peede would not speak to him. (PA-B at 47).

He believed that without a face to face interview he could not

render a professional opinion on competency to proceed. (PA-B

at 47). When the court asked Dr. Mings if he would interview

Peede in open court, Mr. Peede interjected, stating that it was

“[n]ot going to happen either way.” (PA-B at 49).

Dr. Mings could not state whether the failure to cooperate

was the result of some paranoid ideation or other manifestation

of mental illness without a face to face interview. The DOC

3Previous counsel was allowed to withdraw based uponpersonal conflict with Peede.

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records, however, did not reveal any evidence of, or treatment

for mental illness. (PA-B at 47). Dr. Mings did note some

evidence of paranoia in the records but did not have any way of

discerning whether his lack of cooperation was the result of a

logical reasoning or based upon paranoia. (PA-B at 48).

However, Dr. Mings admitted that the DOC records did not reveal

indications of “paranoid ideations.” (PA-B at 49). Although he

did not see any evidence of that in the records [paranoid

ideations], he could not say “it wasn’t there.” (PA-B at 49).

At a status conference, Peede’s new counsel, Kenneth Malnik,

Assistant CCRC, South, questioned Peede’s competency. On

November 29, 2000, the Honorable Judge Lawrence Kirkwood

reaffirmed his prior competency ruling and granted the State’s

motion for Peede to submit to an examination by a mental health

expert selected by the State. (PA-D). On December 6, 2001,

Peede’s counsel filed a written motion to determine competency

based upon Peede’s emotional display during a meeting with

counsel at the jail.3 Peede evidently became very emotional when

the discussion turned to his ex-wife Darla. Moreover, Peede

indicated that he would not trust any doctor selected by the

State and therefore would not cooperate in the court ordered

4On January 4, 2002, Dr. Merin traveled to UnionCorrectional to meet with Mr. Peede but Peede refused to beexamined by the expert selected by the State. (RA-Exhibit 1).

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examination.4 (PA-C). The State filed a written objection to

another round of competency examinations, noting that the issue

of Peede’s competency had been fully litigated. (RA-A). The

State argued the instant motion did not differ significantly

from the conduct cited in the previous motion to determine

competency. (RA-A).

On February 8, 2002, the Honorable Lawrence Kirkwood granted

the defense motion and appointed Dr. Berns to examine Peede and

submit a report. (RA-C). On March 13, 2002, Dr. Berns filed a

report documenting his review of records and conclusions

regarding Mr. Peede. (RA-C). As part of his evaluation, Dr.

Berns met with Peede at prison to conduct an interview.

However, Dr. Berns found Peede uncooperative and the interview

was terminated after only ten minutes. (RA-C, 6). Dr. Berns

therefore was not able to render an opinion on Peede’s

competency. Id. at 8. Dr. Berns recommended that Peede be

transferred to the psychiatric unit of the Florida State prison

where he could be monitored and the staff could report on his

mental condition. Id. at 7. On June 13, 2002, the State filed

a notice of concurrence with the court appointed expert’s

recommendation that Peede be transferred to the forensic unit of

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a state hospital, such as the North Florida Evaluation and

Treatment Center where he could be observed on a 24 hour basis

by trained mental health professionals. (RA-D).

On September 17, 2002, the Honorable Lawrence Kirkwood

issued an order for Peede to be transferred to a state mental

health facility for a period of evaluation and to file a report

with the court. (RA-E). On December 12, 2002, Dr. David Frank,

a contract Psychiatrist with Union Correctional Institution,

submitted a report to the court. Dr. Frank’s report noted the

following:

Following admission to the UNCI TCU, Inmate Peede wasevaluated with a full initial psychiatric evaluation,weekly follow-up psychiatric interviews, around theclock nursing and security observations, and periodicobservations by a recreational therapist. InmatePeede chose to refuse most services and opportunitiesfor evaluation, which necessitated a longer thanexpected evaluation period. During these seven weeksof observation/evaluation, he has not exhibited anysigns or symptoms of psychosis, thought disorder,depression, mania, or any other major mental disorder.In fact, during the evaluation period, the multi-disciplinary services team has been unable to identifyany disorder that would indicate the need forinpatient treatment... (RA-F).

Dr. Frank concluded that Peede did not require any inpatient

mental health treatment, and that he suffered from a personality

disorder with Antisocial and Borderline Features. (RA-F, 2).

Dr. Gloria Calderon, Senior Physician for Union Correctional

Institution, submitted a report to the court on May 23, 2003.

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(RA-G). Dr. Calderon observed that Peede refused scheduled

appointments with psychiatry. Dr. Calderon observed Peede in

his cell and noted that he was pleasant, cooperative, and

willingly signed the refusal slips. Id. Peede was not on any

psychotropic medication and recommended lowering his psychiatric

classification so that he would no longer be seen by psychiatry

on a regular basis. Id.

On July 18, 2003, the Honorable Alan Lawson conducted a

hearing to determine Peede’s competency. Defense counsel

presented one witness at the hearing, Dr. Frank. Dr. Frank

observed Peede in “TCU” for at least 12 days during the six

weeks that Peede was in the facility. (PA-H, 24). There was

nothing in his observations of Peede during that period that

would lead him to conclude Peede was incompetent. Id. Peede

would not discuss the issue of his wife’s murder because it hurt

“too much,” the same reason he gave the trial court. Id. His

unwillingness to discuss the facts was not due to mental

illness. (PA-H, 24-25). Although he was not directly asked to

examine Peede for postconviction competency, Dr. Frank observed

that the criteria for competency are “fairly simple.” (PA-H,

25). The only question regarding Peede’s competency was whether

he was able to give information to his attorney. “And again, he

has the ability, and that’s what it actually asks in there.

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Does he have the ability. It doesn’t say will he. Actually,

does he understand that he is expected to discuss the events

surrounding his crime with his attorney. But then later on I

think it says that, you know, also that he is able to. So those

two issues.” (PA-H, 25-26). Dr. Frank believed that his

observation of Peede and his review of background material

provided a sufficient basis to conclude that Peede was competent

to proceed. (PA-H, 26).

At the hearing, counsel Malnik reiterated the previous

difficulty counsel had with Peede, that he would not discuss the

facts surrounding the murder with him. (PA-H at 21-22). The

court then inquired of Mr. Peede as to why he would not discuss

the facts with counsel. Peede told the court: “Truth is, it

hurts too much. So I’m thinking about it, and I don’t want to

talk about it.” (PA-H, 22-23). Upon further inquiry, Peede

pointedly reiterated his stance: “Sir, I just told you. I

don’t think about it. I don’t talk about it. That’s the end of

it. If you want to kill me, kill me. That’s it. I’m through

with it.” (PA-H, 23).

On July 24, 2003, the Honorable Alan Lawson found Peede

competent to proceed. The court noted, in part: “Having

evaluated the experts’ reports, viewed Mr. Peede’s in-court

behavior, and carefully considered the testimony of Dr. Frank

14

and this Court’s discussion with Defendant, the Court finds

Defendant to be competent. Simply put, Mr. Peede could assist

his attorneys, if he wanted to, but is instead choosing not to

discuss the facts of this case. It is clear to this Court that

Mr. Peede is not incompetent, simply uncooperative.” (PA-I at

2).

ARGUMENT

THE ORDER FINDING PETITIONER COMPETENT TO PROCEED ISNOT SUBJECT TO AN INTERLOCUTORY APPEAL. PETITIONERHAS NOT SHOWN THE TRIAL COURT DEPARTED FROM THEESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW OR THAT HE WILLSUFFER IRREPARABLE HARM IF THE EVIDENTIARY HEARINGPROCEEDS.

A. The Instant Petition Should Be Summarily Dismissed

Since Peede’s other postconviction claims remain pending,

the Order currently being appealed is interlocutory and not

subject to appeal at this time. “It is well settled that a

judgment attains the degree of finality necessary to support an

appeal when it adjudicates the merits of the cause and disposes

of the action between the parties, leaving no judicial labor to

be done except the execution of the judgment.” McGurn v. Scott,

596 So. 2d 1042, 1043 (Fla. 1992)(quoting Gore v. Hansen, 59 So.

2d 538 (Fla. 1952). Non-final orders in capital postconviction

proceedings are reviewed by this Court pursuant to Rule

15

9.142(b), Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure (2003). See also

Trepal v. State, 754 So. 2d 702 (Fla. 2000). Rule 9.142

mandates filing requirements which mirror the rules for

extraordinary writs. In addition, this Court’s exercise of its

jurisdiction over such appeals requires an appellant to show

that the challenged order does not conform to the essential

requirements of the law, and may cause irreparable injury for

which appellate review would be inadequate. Trepal, 754 So. 2d

at 707. The instant Petition does not satisfy the requirements

for such extraordinary exercise of this Court’s jurisdiction.

Rule 9.142(b) and Trepal are consistent with prior decisions

regarding the appropriateness of appellate review of nonfinal

orders. See McGurn, 596 So. 2d at 1042 (piecemeal review of

cases is not favored by an appellate court and care should be

exercised by trial judges to avoid, so far as is possible, the

necessity for successive appeals); Brown v. Housing Authority of

Orlando, 680 So. 2d 620 (Fla. 5th DCA 1996); White v. State, 450

So. 2d 556 (Fla. 2d DCA 1984). No prejudice will accrue to

Peede since he has an avenue of relief available once his

remaining claims for relief are resolved. If the defendant is

allowed to continue to pursue the appeal of the partially

completed proceedings below, he will effectively delay the

proceedings by requiring two appeals rather than one. Such

16

unnecessary delay prejudices the State of Florida and frustrates

the administration of justice in this case. On these facts,

dismissal of this appeal is required.

Issues surrounding competency are reviewed in the normal

course of appeal before this Court, not in an interlocutory

appeal. See generally Carroll v. State, 815 So. 2d 601, 610

(Fla. 2002)(finding competency claim procedurally barred from

post-conviction review where the competency finding was not

challenged on direct appeal of the defendant’s conviction),

citing Patton v. State, 784 So. 2d 380, 393 (Fla. 2000) and

Johnston v. Dugger, 583 So. 2d 657, 659 (Fla. 1991). If the

normal course of appellate review is sufficient for a competency

to stand trial determination, there is no reason to treat a

postconviction finding of competency differently. Petitioner

has an adequate remedy, an appeal to this Court after the

conclusion of his evidentiary hearing. No irreparable harm will

be suffered by Peede. See State v. Lozano, 616 So. 2d 73, 75

(Fla. 1st DCA 1993)(stating that “the time, trouble, and expense

of an unnecessary trial are not considered ‘irreparable injury’

for these purposes.”). An interlocutory appeal on a competency

finding simply encourages piecemeal litigation and results in a

waste of this Court’s limited judicial resources. See Thomas v.

Silvers, 748 So. 2d 263, 264 (Fla. 1999)(“we remain vigilant in

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guarding the policy underlying rule 9.130 restricting piecemeal

review of nonfinal orders because allowing such a review, in

most cases, only serves to waste court resources and needlessly

delay final judgment.”)(citing Travelers Ins. Co. v. Bruns, 443

So. 2d 959, 960 (Fla. 1984)). Accordingly, the instant appeal

should be dismissed.

B. The Trial Court Did Not Depart From The EssentialRequirements Of The Law In Finding Peede Competent ToProceed

Peede takes issue with the procedure employed by the trial

court for determining his competency. Specifically, he contends

that the procedures prescribed under Rule of Criminal Procedure

3.211 were not followed. (Petition at 13-14). Petitioner is

somewhat vague in which requirements were not met, simply

listing the information that should be contained in the report

under Rule 3.211(d). If there was any defect in the procedure

employed below, it was only because of Peede’s complete refusal

to cooperate with psychiatric examinations. Moreover, it must

be remembered that Peede has already had one full competency

hearing, wherein two court appointed experts testified as well

as two defense experts. After this hearing, Peede was found

competent to proceed. A second competency hearing on

essentially the same grounds, Peede’s emotional refusal to

discuss details of his ex-wife’s murder, was not warranted.

5The trial court asked defense counsel a salient questiongiven the posture of this case: “So, you are saying that you canjust successively keep filing motions? Do you have a basis forthat?” (PA-H at 20). Defense counsel simply stated that therule did not mention prior competency determination. (PA-H at20-21).

18

Based upon this record, the trial court would have been well

within its discretion to reject defense counsel’s motion.5

In Hunter v. State, 660 So. 2d 244 (Fla. 1995), cert.

denied, 516 U.S. 1128 (1996), the defendant claimed the trial

court erred in denying a renewed motion to determine competency.

“In this motion, defense counsel made several observations about

his client’s continuing unusual behavior, including Hunter’s

repeated threats to disrupt the proceedings.” Hunter, 660 So.

2d at 248. Defense counsel also referred to a second report

from one of his experts “which primarily discussed mitigating

circumstances, but also opined that Hunter was incompetent to

stand trial.” Id. This Court found the trial court did not err

in refusing to conduct a second competency hearing, noting that

a presumption of competence attaches from a previous

determination of competency to stand trial. “While there was

continuing evidence of incompetence, it was the same or similar

to the evidence previously asserted and was not of such a nature

as to mandate a new hearing.” Hunter, 660 So. 2d at 248.

Similarly, in Oats v. State, 472 So. 2d 1143 (Fla.), cert.

19

denied, 474 U.S. 865 (1985), the defendant argued the trial

court erred in failing to order a competency examination prior

to sentencing based upon defense counsel’s assertion that he was

insane. The defense counsel made this request based upon his

conversations with the defendant and “expert testimony presented

during the trial concerning Oats’s mental state.” Oats, 472 So.

2d at 1144. The defendant was questioned by the trial court and

appeared oriented to time and place but “professed confusion as

to the exact nature of the proceeding facing him.” Id. This

Court phrased the question before it as follows: “Thus, the

narrow issue before this Court is whether the trial court abused

its discretion by refusing to appoint experts to examine the

defendant when the only evidence of defendant’s possible

insanity is the defense counsel’s unsupported suggestion that

defendant is not presently sane.” This Court held it was not,

noting that Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.740(a)

conditions the postponement of sentencing on the court having

“reasonable ground” to believe that the defendant is insane.

Under the facts presented in Oats, this Court found defense

counsel’s unsupported claim did not meet this reasonable ground

requirement for the appointment of experts. Oats, 472 So. 2d at

1144.

Defense counsel’s motion questioning Peede’s competency was

20

based essentially upon the same grounds as the motion filed by

previous counsel. As the State argued, the motion did not

provide “reasonable grounds” to once again order Peede examined

for competency. Nonetheless, exercising an abundance of

caution, the court appointed Dr. Berns, who had previously

considered the question of Peede’s competency, to attempt

another examination. Predictably, Peede refused to cooperate,

terminating the interview with Dr. Berns, after only ten

minutes. At least two experts did examine or attempt to examine

Peede for his latest competency determination. [Dr. Berns and

Dr. Frank].

Dr. Frank, the expert with the most contact with Peede,

testified in court that Peede was competent to proceed. Dr.

Frank noted the criteria for competency are “fairly simple.”

(PA-H, 25-26). Dr. Berns was unable to render a conclusion

regarding Peede’s competency due to his lack of cooperation with

the examination. On Dr. Berns’ recommendation, Peede was

transferred to the state hospital for a period of observation by

prison mental health personnel. (RA-C at 7). After the

requested period of observation the court held a hearing on

Peede’s competency. After hearing the testimony of Dr. Frank

and considering the court’s observation of Peede and the hearing

colloquy, Peede was again found competent to proceed. Peede has

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successfully delayed his evidentiary hearing for nearly two

years by refusing to cooperate with counsel. It cannot be said

the trial court’s ruling departed from the essential

requirements of the law. Accordingly, this Petition must be

denied.

WHEREFORE, the State respectfully submits that this

Honorable Court issue an Order dismissing the instant Petition.

Respectfully submitted,

CHARLES J. CRIST, JR.ATTORNEY GENERAL

___________________________________SCOTT A. BROWNEAssistant Attorney GeneralFlorida Bar No. 0802743Concourse Center 43507 East Frontage Road, Suite 200Tampa, Florida 33607-7013(813) 287-7910(813) 281-5501 Facsimile

COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT

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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the

foregoing has been furnished by U. S. Regular Mail to Kenneth

Malnik, Assistant Capital Collateral Counsel - Southern Region,

101 Northeast 3rd Avenue, Suite 400, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

33301, this _____ day of October, 2003.

CERTIFICATE OF TYPE SIZE AND STYLE

I HEREBY CERTIFY that the size and style of type used in

this response is 12-point Courier New, in compliance with Fla.

R. App. P. 9.210(a)(2).

___________________________________COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF FLORIDA

ROBERT IRA PEEDE,

Petitioner,

vs. CASE NO. SC03-1443Lower Tribunal No. CF93-1682

STATE OF FLORIDA,

Respondent.

INDEX TO APPENDIX

RA-A . State’s Response to Motion to Determine Competency,December 6, 2001 (this exhibit provided without theMay 24, 2000 transcript which has been provided to thecourt with Petitioner’s Initial Petition)

RA-B . Order following Hearing on Motion for Determination ofCompetency, June 22, 2000

RA-C . Order Granting Motion to Determine Defendant’sCompetency, February 8, 2002 and Forensic Evaluationof Robert Peede by Alan S. Berns, M.D., March 13, 2002

RA-D . State’s Concurrence of Court Appointed Mental HealthExpert’s Recommendation for Transfer of Defendant...and Motion to Expedite Competency Evaluation Process,June 13, 2002

RA-E . Corrected Order Regarding State’s Concurrence of MentalHealth Expert’s Recommendation for Transfer ofDefendant and Motion to Expedite Competency EvaluationProcess, September 17, 2002

RA-F . Report of David E. Frank, M.D., December 12, 2002

RA-G . Department of Corrections’ Notice of Filing: Report ofG. Calderon, M.D., Sr. Physician, Union CorrectionalInstitution, May 23, 2003

RA-Ex. 1 Letter from Sidney Merin, Ph.D., January 8, 2002 (this

24

exhibit has not been previously filed with the court)