Elder-Evins v. Casey et al

Filing 243

ORDER Regarding Competency Examination. Signed by Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler on 10/10/2012. (lblc2, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 10/10/2012)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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Northern District of California

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San Francisco Division
ANNETTE SHARLENE ELDER-EVINS,

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For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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Plaintiff,

ORDER REGARDING
COMPETENCY EXAMINATION

v.
MICHAEL J. CASEY, et al.,

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No. C 09-05775 SBA (LB)

Defendants.
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At the last hearing on September 27, 2012, the court told counsel that it would contact U.S.

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Probation and U.S. Pretrial Services to find out whether there are any medical providers in the area

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who might have particular expertise in treating and/or examining Native American patients.

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According to U.S. Probation, a registered tribal member in Sonoma County is eligible for tribal

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health services, and there is a psychologist on the medical board there. U.S. Pretrial Services

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contacted Dr. Leon Wakefield, who is the Director of Behavior Health at the Sonoma County Indian

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Health Project. See http://www.scihp.org/ (last accessed October 9, 2012). That agency provides

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mental health and substance abuse services “in a manner sensitive to the cultures and traditions” of

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Native Americans. According to Dr. Wakefield, the Project has psychiatrists and psychologists that

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are available for hire to conduct a competency evaluation of a Native American person (ideally one

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who lives in their area). Dr. Wakefield is available by phone at 707-521-4523 and—according to

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U.S. Probation—able to speak to the importance of having someone attuned to the sensitivities that
C 09-05775 SBA (LB)
ORDER

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Plaintiff’s counsel mentioned at the hearing.

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Counsel should meet and confer about this information as part of the next steps outlined in the

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court’s September 27, 2012 order. See Order to Show Cause and Further Scheduling Order, ECF

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No. 240.

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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: October 10, 2012
_______________________________
LAUREL BEELER
United States Magistrate Judge

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For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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C 09-05775 SBA (LB)
ORDER

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