Espinoza v. Ornoski

Filing 331

ORDER signed by Magistrate Judge Deborah Barnes on 3/25/2024 APPOINTING Dr. Hira Hanif as a neutral expert to assist the court under Federal Rule of Evidence 706. The parties shall each bear half the cost of Dr. Hanif's fees. Along with this or der, the Clerk shall send electronic copies of the following documents to Dr. Hanif: a. The 2017 reports of Drs. Barry Morenz and Antolin M. Llorente (ECF No. 280 -6), b. The CDCR mental health records attached as an exhibit to the 2018 amen dment to the petition (ECF No. 280 -2 at pp. 198-276), c. The records of petitioner's January 2021 Keyhea proceedings (ECF No. 304 -1), d. The records of petitioner's January 2023 Keyhea proceedings (ECF No. 316 -1). Within 20 d ays, the custodian of records, or other appropriate official, at CMF shall forward to the court and to Dr. Hanif copies of petitioner's mental health records from January 2022 to the present, in accordance with this order. The Clerk shall serve a copy of this order on the litigation coordinator at CMF. The litigation coordinator shall provide a copy of this order to the custodian of records, or other appropriate official, within 5 days of service. (Yin, K)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

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ANTONIO ESPINOZA,

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No. 2:94-cv-1665 KJM DB

Petitioner,

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v.

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ORDER

WARDEN,

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Respondent.

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Petitioner is a state prisoner proceeding through counsel with a petition for a writ of

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habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. §2254.1 Before the court is petitioner’s counsel’s motion to have

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petitioner declared incompetent and for appointment of a guardian ad litem under Federal Rule of

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Civil Procedure 17. (ECF No. 309.) Respondent has informed the court that they take no

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position on the motion. (ECF No. 323.) After hearing petitioner’s counsel’s argument, this court

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determined that the appropriate first step in considering counsel’s motion was to conduct an in-

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person hearing to question petitioner about his understanding of these proceedings and whether he

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consents to the appointment of a guardian ad litem (the “notice hearing”). This court also noted

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When petitioner filed this action, he was under a sentence of death. In 2018, petitioner filed a
state habeas petition raising the issue of his competency to be executed. In May 2022, the parties
stipulated to have petitioner’s death sentence vacated. The superior court accepted that
stipulation. Petitioner is now serving a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. (See
ECF No. 292-1.)
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that the expert evaluations relied upon by petitioner’s counsel were conducted in 2017. Because

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the issue before the court is petitioner’s present competency, a current evaluation would be

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required and this court found that it would likely appoint an independent expert to render an

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opinion for the Rule 17 determination. (ECF No. 320.) After conducting the notice hearing at the

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California Medical Facility, this court affirmed that appointment of a neutral expert is necessary

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to consider petitioner’s counsel’s motion. (See ECF No. 329.)

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The court directed the parties to confer and, if possible, jointly propose an expert for

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appointment. The parties have proposed appointment of psychiatrist Dr. Hira Hanif. (ECF No.

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330.) This court has reviewed Dr. Hanif’s credentials and experience and has determined that

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appointment of Dr. Hanif is appropriate. Dr. Hanif has consented to the appointment.
The court appoints Dr. Hanif under Federal Rule of Evidence 706. Rule 706 provides for

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appointment of an expert on the court’s own motion. As set out in subsection (b), the court

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determines the expert’s duties. Subsection (c) provides for reasonable compensation of the

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expert. In a civil case, “compensation is payable . . by the parties in the proportion and at the

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time that the court directs--and the compensation is then charged like other costs.” Fed. R. Civ.

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P. (c)(ii).

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This court finds that both parties should bear the cost of the expert’s work. Petitioner

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should bear part of the cost because a current expert report is necessary to consider petitioner’s

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counsel’s motion. Respondent should also bear part of the cost of the expert’s work. While

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respondent does not take a position on the motion, the government has an interest in the just

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resolution of these proceedings. If petitioner is incompetent to assist his counsel, appointment of

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a guardian ad litem to represent petitioner’s interests is necessary to the fair resolution of the

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issues in this case. This court will direct petitioner’s counsel and respondent to evenly split the

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costs of the expert’s fees.

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In the order clause below, this court lists the documents Dr. Hanif shall review. They

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include plaintiff’s mental health records for the last two years, records of recent Keyhea

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proceedings, and the reports of Drs. Morenz and Llorente attached as exhibits to the 2018

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amendment to the petition. If Dr. Hanif feels additional documents are required, he shall contact
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the court. Dr. Hanif shall also examine petitioner at a time to be determined and provide a written

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report to the court regarding petitioner’s present mental health, petitioner’s mental health

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prognosis, and petitioner’s competency to assist counsel in these proceedings.

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In a civil case, determinations of competency are governed by Federal Rule of Civil

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Procedure 17. Allen v. Calderon, 408 F.3d 1150, 1153 (9th Cir. 2005). The federal court looks to

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state law competency standards. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(b)(1). Under California law, a party is

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incompetent “if he or she lacks the capacity to understand the nature or consequences of the

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proceeding, or is unable to assist counsel in the preparation of the case.” Golden Gate Way, LLC

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v. Stewart, No. C 09–04458 DMR, 2012 WL 4482053, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Sept. 28, 2012) (citing In

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re Jessica G., 93 Cal. App. 4th 1180, 1186 (2001)). While Dr. Hanif should be cognizant of this

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standard, this court expressly does not delegate the court’s ultimate legal conclusion to Dr. Hanif.

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For the foregoing reasons, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED as follows:

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1. The court appoints Dr. Hira Hanif as a neutral expert to assist the court under Federal

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Rule of Evidence 706. The parties shall each bear half the cost of Dr. Hanif’s fees.

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2. Along with a copy of this order, the Clerk of the Court shall send electronic copies of

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the following documents to Dr. Hanif at [e-mail]:

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a. The 2017 reports of Drs. Barry Morenz and Antolin M. Llorente. (ECF No. 280-

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6.)

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b. The CDCR mental health records attached as an exhibit to the 2018 amendment to

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the petition. (ECF No. 280-2 at pp. 198-276.)

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c. The records of petitioner’s January 2021 Keyhea proceedings. (ECF No. 304-1.)

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d. The records of petitioner’s January 2023 Keyhea proceedings. (ECF No. 316-1.)

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3. Within twenty days of the date of this order, the custodian of records, or other

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appropriate official, at the California Medical Facility shall forward to the court and to

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Dr. Hanif copies of petitioner’s mental health records from January 2022 to the

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present. Records should be emailed to [e-mail] and

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[e-mail].

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4. The Clerk of the Court is directed to serve a copy of this order on the litigation

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coordinator at the California Medical Facility. The litigation coordinator shall provide

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a copy of this order to the custodian of records, or other appropriate official, within

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five days of service.

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5. If respondent or counsel for petitioner feel additional records should be provided to

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Dr. Hanif, they shall file a request describing those records and providing a brief

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explanation of their necessity.

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DATED: March 25, 2024

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/s/ DEBORAH BARNES
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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DB:9
DB prisoner inbox/capital/S/Espinoza appt expert

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