Jakari Webb v. State of Florida

Summary

The Fifth District Court of Appeal held that the trial court fundamentally erred by failing to independently determine Jakari Webb’s competency after appointing an expert to evaluate his competency to proceed. The court reversed the convictions and sentences and remanded for a nunc pro tunc competency determination or a new trial if that determination could not be made.

Holdings

1. When the record provides reasonable grounds to believe that a defendant may not be competent, the trial court fundamentally errs by failing to make an independent determination of the defendant's competence.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the trial court fundamentally erred by failing to make an independent determination of Webb's competence after appointing an expert to evaluate his competence to proceed.

Disposition

reversed_and_remanded