United States v. Navarette

This opinion is subject to revision before publication
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE ARMED FORCES
_______________
UNITED STATES
Appellee
v.
Jeremy N. NAVARETTE, Specialist
United States Army, Appellant
No. 20-0195
Crim. App. No. 20160786
Argued April 20, 2021—Decided August 10, 2021
Military Judge: S. Charles Neill
For Appellant: Captain Catherine E. Godfrey (argued); Colo-
nel Michael C. Friess, Lieutenant Colonel Angela D. Swilley,
Major Jodie L. Grimm, and Jonathan F. Potter, Esq. (on
brief); Colonel Elizabeth G. Marotta, Lieutenant Colonel Tif-
fany D. Pond, Major Joseph C. Borland, and Captain Zach-
ary A Gray.
For Appellee: Captain Reanne R. Wentz (argued); Colonel
Steven P. Haight, Lieutenant Colonel Wayne H. Williams,
and Major Dustin B. Myrie (on brief).
Senior Judge STUCKY delivered the opinion of the
Court, in which Chief Judge OHLSON and Judge
SPARKS joined. Judge MAGGS filed a separate dissent-
ing opinion, in which Judge HARDY joined.
_______________
Senior Judge STUCKY delivered the opinion of the Court.
This case has come before this Court for the second time.
See United States v. Navarette, 79 M.J. 123 (C.A.A.F. 2019).
During the lengthy appellate process, Appellant has sought a
Rule for Courts-Martial [R.C.M.] 706 inquiry to investigate
his mental status. Originally and upon remand from this
Court, the United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals
(CCA) found that Appellant failed to raise a substantial ques-
tion as to his mental condition. We disagree and reverse.
I. Background
Appellant was court-martialed for selling drugs to an un-
dercover agent. Navarette, 79 M.J. at 124–25. At the time of
United States v. Navarette, No. 20-0195/AR
Opinion of the Court
trial, Appellant’s known mental health diagnoses were low
IQ, attention deficit disorder (ADD), depression, anxiety, and
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Id. at 125 & n.3; id. at
128 & n.1 (Stucky, J., dissenting). His defense counsel intro-
duced evidence of these problems during the court-martial
but did not explicitly pursue a lack of mental responsibility
defense; rather, they argued that Appellant’s troubles made
him very suggestible, such that he was entrapped by the un-
dercover agent. Navarette, 79 M.J. at 125. Their efforts were
unsuccessful: the panel of officer and enlisted members that
sat as a general court-martial convicted Appellant, contrary
to his pleas, of one specification of wrongful distribution of co-
caine, in violation of Article 112a, Uniform Code of Military
Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. § 912a (2012). The panel then sen-
tenced Appellant to a bad-conduct discharge, confinement for
ninety days, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and reduc-
tion to the grade of E-1. The convening authority approved
the sentence as adjudged.
II. Appellate Procedural History
The events between the trial and our first decision in this
case proceeded as follows:
While in confinement, Appellant was treated for
[PTSD], anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
He was released from confinement in late February
2017. In August of that year, he was admitted to Red
River Hospital in Wichita Falls, Texas, where he re-
mained for over a month. On March 26, 2018, he was
admitted to the Veterans Medical Center Hospital in
Long Beach, California, where he remained until
April 2. Five days later he was admitted to Aurora
Las Encinas Hospital in Pasadena, California,
where he remained until April 22. His prognosis at
discharge was “good with . . . follow up.”
Despite that positive outlook, on May 9, roughly
two weeks after his release from Aurora Las En-
cinas, Appellant was apprehended by police while
“in a florid manic state.” Believing himself to be an
FBI agent sent to instruct children on how to re-
spond to a terrorist attack, he attempted to enter a
school, made threats, crashed his car into a school
bus, and then attempted to kill himself. He was
again admitted to the hospital, this time at Del Amo
2
United States v. Navarette, No. 20-0195/AR
Opinion of the Court
Hospital in Torrance, California. There he was diag-
nosed with bipolar disorder. His initial seven-day
commitment was extended to fourteen and then
thirty days, as a Los Angeles County Superior Court
repeatedly found him “gravely disabled” under the
pertinent California statute—meaning that he was
incompetent to feed, clothe, and shelter himself. He
was finally discharged on June 26. His prognosis
was good, if he continued hospital treatment and his
medication regimen, which consisted of two drugs
twice daily and another drug once daily. He was pre-
scribed a thirty-day supply of these medications. It
is unclear if he ever obtained them.
....
Appellant’s brief to the CCA was filed on April 27,
five days after his release from Aurora Las Encinas.
Following his admission to Del Amo, the severity of
Appellant’s condition prompted his treating physi-
cian to contact Appellant’s defense counsel, unsolic-
ited, on May 18 to alert them to the diagnosis and its
potential impact on his case. Consequently, on July
30, 2018, just over a month after his release from Del
Amo, Appellant moved the CCA to stay appellate
proceedings and order an inquiry under [R.C.M.]
706. The Government elected to oppose this motion.
Oral arguments were heard on the motion and Ap-
pellant’s other issues on August 30. During oral ar-
gument, Appellate defense counsel declined to make
any assertion regarding whether his communica-
tions with his client had given rise to any compe-
tency concerns. The lower court then denied the mo-
tion and affirmed the findings and sentence on
September 17, 2018. On February 27, 2019, we
granted Appellant’s petition for grant of review.
Navarette, 79 M.J. at 128–29 (Stucky, C. J., dissenting) (sec-
ond alteration in original).
Although this Court “granted review to determine
whether the Army Court erroneously denied Appellant a
post-trial R.C.M. 706 inquiry,” we “opt[ed] not to directly an-
swer the granted issues because of concerns that the lower
court’s review under Article 66, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 866, re-
main[ed] incomplete.” Navarette, 79 M.J. at 124. In particu-
lar, we were concerned that the CCA had not taken into ac-
count the proper considerations when evaluating Appellant’s
request for an inquiry into his mental condition. Id. at 126–
3
United States v. Navarette, No. 20-0195/AR
Opinion of the Court
27. As such, we set aside the CCA’s decision and remanded
the case to the lower court with instructions to (1) “give ap-
pellate defense counsel the opportunity to make a showing of
nexus between Appellant’s significant and documented men-
tal health issues and his capacity to participate in appellate
proceedings” and (2) “more fully evaluate Appellant’s R.C.M.
1203 motion in light of counsel’s representations and all other
evidence relating to Appellant’s mental capacity, particularly
in regard to the events that unfolded during the period of ap-
pellate representation.” Id. at 127.
The case was remanded to the CCA and Appellant again
filed a motion for the CCA “to order an inquiry into the mental
capacity and mental responsibility of [Appellant], and to stay
the proceedings pending the outcome of such proceeding pur-
suant to [R.C.M.] 1203 and 706(c)(5).” Appellant submitted
additional evidence to support the motion.
First, Appellant included an affidavit from Dr. Kevin
Richards, a forensic psychologist. In the affidavit, Dr. Rich-
ards detailed how the mental illnesses with which Appellant
was diagnosed, especially bipolar disorder and intellectual
disability, can affect mental capacity and responsibility. He
explained that these illnesses can “severely limit an individ-
ual’s ability to manifest a rational and factual understanding
of the charges against them as well as ability to assist an at-
torney in preparing a defense” and that Appellant’s specific
mental competency and responsibility “could only be deter-
mined if he were to undergo a RCM 706 evaluation to address
the connections between his diagnosed disorders and the psy-
cho-legal questions at hand.”
Second, Appellant offered additional medical records
stemming from an emergency room visit in April 2019. The
police had to bring Appellant to the emergency room after he
“drank alcohol . . . , became manic and impulsive and had er-
ratic behavior, jumped into tracks of subway and started to
cut his forearm superficially, [and was] pulled out by [Metro-
politan Transportation Authority workers].” The records
noted that Appellant declined the hospital’s offer of inpatient
hospitalization and the hospital decided that he did not meet
the criteria for involuntary hospitalization, but the doctor still
had to review with Appellant a “suicide safety plan” and
“plans of care if in crisis.”
4
United States v. Navarette, No. 20-0195/AR
Opinion of the Court
Finally, Appellant’s lead appellate defense counsel,
Captain Zachary Gray, detailed his concerns about
Appellant’s competency.1 In the motion, Captain Gray said
that he tried to follow this Court’s guidance in our original
opinion by “assert[ing] . . . his personal beliefs based on
interactions with appellant” without violating attorney-client
privilege. He explained that at first, he only was aware of
Appellant’s diagnoses that were known at trial, and so he
knew that Appellant had mental health problems but
believed that Appellant was competent. However, this was
before Appellant was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and
Captain Gray became aware of this diagnosis. Learning about
the diagnosis “significantly impact[ed] counsel’s perception of
[his communications with Appellant] and provide[d] critical
context to what counsel would describe as challenging
conversations.” Specifically, he realized that “appellant
exhibited what counsel now recognizes as symptoms of mania
and depression [associated with bipolar disorder], including a
rapid speech pattern, disorganized thought patterns,
sluggishness, and apathy.” Most troublingly, Appellant was
not forthcoming with Captain Gray about these issues: he did
not know until seeing Appellant’s new medical records that
“[o]n more than one occasion . . . appellant was
communicating with counsel from locked psychiatric wards
but failed to disclose this fact.” Consequently, Captain Gray
“had, and continues to have, substantial questions about
appellant’s ability to assist in his own defense.”
The CCA then considered Appellant’s request for a second
time. United States v. Navarette, No. ARMY 20160786, 2020
CCA LEXIS 31, at *11–20; 2020 WL 489355, at *4–7 (A. Ct.
Crim. App. Jan. 29, 2020) (unpublished). In this second re-
view, the Government agreed with Appellant that “a substan-
tial question as to [Appellant’s] current mental capacity has
been raised” and that an R.C.M. 706 inquiry should be or-
dered to “ ‘determin[e Appellant’s] present capacity to under-
stand and cooperate in the appellate proceedings.’ ” (quoting
1 Captain Gray has since withdrawn as appellate defense coun-
sel, and Captain Catherine Godfrey has taken his place as lead ap-
pellate defense counsel. Captain Godfrey submits that she “has
formed her own serious concerns regarding appellant’s capacity to
cooperate intelligently in his own defense.”
5
United States v. Navarette, No. 20-0195/AR
Opinion of the Court
R.C.M. 1203(c)(5)). The Government’s only disagreement
with Appellant was that it thought that the inquiry should be
limited to Appellant’s mental capacity to participate in the
appellate proceedings, rather than also consider his compe-
tency during the time of the charged offenses. The lower court
acknowledged the Government’s concession and the fact that
Appellant “ha[d] provided clear evidence that he suffers from
significant mental health issues.” Id. at *15; 2020 WL 489355,
at *5. The court also considered appellate defense counsel’s
representations (outlined above) in his R.C.M. 1203 motion.
See id. at *15–17, 2020 WL 489355, at *6. Still, the court held
once again that “[Appellant] has not raised a substantial
question as to his mental capacity,” because he “failed to es-
tablish a sufficient nexus between his mental health diagno-
ses and his ability to participate in the appellate proceedings”
and “also failed to make a prima facie showing that he suf-
fered from his new diagnosis or related symptoms at the time
of his offense such that there is a substantial question as to
his mental responsibility at the time of the charged offense.”
Id. at *12; 2020 WL 489355, at *4. Therefore, the court again
denied Appellant’s motion for an R.C.M. 706 inquiry and af-
firmed the findings and sentence. Id. at *20; 2020 WL 489355,
at *7.
Appellant moved for reconsideration, but the CCA denied
the motion.2
III. Law and Discussion
A. Mental Competency
“Historically, we have given preferential treatment to the
question of mental responsibility of a military member, even
though the matter was not litigated at trial.” United States v.
Young, 43 M.J. 196, 197 (C.A.A.F. 1995), quoted in United
States v. Harris, 61 M.J. 391, 395 (C.A.A.F. 2005).
2 Attached to the request for consideration was an affidavit from
Captain Gray, which detailed his concerns about Appellant’s men-
tal competency. As the affidavit was not before the CCA when the
court issued the decision that we are reviewing here, we have not
considered it in reaching our conclusion. We only consider those
representations made by Captain Gray in Appellant’s renewed
R.C.M. 1203 motion.
6
United States v. Navarette, No. 20-0195/AR
Opinion of the Court
That preferential treatment begins at the trial level:
R.C.M. 706 allows for an inquiry, by a board of one or more
professionals, to evaluate whether “the accused, at the time
of the offense and as a result of severe mental disease or de-
fect” was thereby “ ‘unable to appreciate the nature and qual-
ity or wrongfulness of his or her conduct’ ” and “ ‘unable to
understand the nature of the proceedings against [him or her]
or to conduct or cooperate intelligently in the defense.’ ”
Navarette, 79 M.J. at 125 (quoting R.C.M. 706(c)(2)(C)–(D)).
Then, during the appellate process, “R.C.M. 1203(c)(5) al-
lows that an appellate authority may order a psychiatric eval-
uation in accordance with R.C.M. 706 if a ‘substantial ques-
tion is raised as to the requisite mental capacity of the
accused.’ ” Id. at 125–26 (quoting R.C.M. 1203(c)(5)). To put
into question his capacity under R.C.M. 1203(c)(5), an appel-
lant must show there is a substantial question regarding his
ability to “conduct and cooperate intelligently in the appellate
proceedings.” Id. at 126 (quoting R.C.M. 1203(c)(5)). In our
first decision concerning this case, we said that “the rule re-
quires that an appellant establish a nexus between his men-
tal impairment and his ability to participate intelligently in
the proceedings.” Id. However, we did not define “substantial
question.” See id. at 124.
As a preliminary matter then, we must determine what
the term “substantial question” means. “Historically the
phrase ‘substantial question’ has referred to questions that
are ‘fairly debatable.’ ” United States v. Handy, 761 F.2d 1279,
1281 (9th Cir. 1985). The Supreme Court has defined similar
terms as follows:
In requiring a question of some substance, or a sub-
stantial showing of the denial of [a] federal right, ob-
viously the petitioner need not show that he should
prevail on the merits. . . . Rather, he must demon-
strate that the issues are debatable among jurists of
reason; that a court could resolve the issues [in a dif-
ferent manner]; or that the questions are adequate
to deserve encouragement to proceed further.
Barefoot v. Estelle, 463 U.S. 880, 893 n.4 1090 (1983) (altera-
tions in original) (internal quotation marks omitted) (cita-
tions omitted).
7
United States v. Navarette, No. 20-0195/AR
Opinion of the Court
We now further clarify that a “substantial question” with
regard to R.C.M. 1203(c)(5) is one in which the
appellant’s “ ‘mental capacity to understand and to conduct or
cooperate intelligently in the appellate proceedings,’ ”
Navarette, 79 M.J. at 129 (quoting R.C.M. 1203(c)(5)), is fairly
debatable among jurists of reason. See, e.g., Estelle, 463 U.S.
at 893 n.4. This is not a high bar. We review the CCA’s
decision to grant or deny a motion for an inquiry of this nature
for an abuse of discretion. 79 M.J. at 126. A court abuses its
discretion when its findings of fact are clearly erroneous, its
decision is influenced by an erroneous view of the law, or the
court’s decision is unreasonable in light of the law and facts.
United States v. Ayala, 81 M.J. 25, 27–28 (C.A.A.F. 2021).
B. Analysis
The heart of the CCA’s second ruling was that Appellant,
through his appellate defense counsel, failed, yet again, to
“satisfy the requisite standards for [the CCA] to order an in-
quiry” into Appellant’s mental health because he did not “pro-
vide any information about how [A]ppellant’s mental health
conditions impact his competency.” Navarette, 2020 CCA
LEXIS 31, at *13, *16; 2020 WL 489355, at *5, *6. In light of
the information before us, these conclusions are clearly un-
reasonable. See, e.g., United States v. McElhaney, 54 M.J. 120,
130 (C.A.A.F. 2000). Therefore, we hold that the CCA abused
its discretion by denying Appellant’s request for a post-trial
R.C.M. 706 inquiry.
As Appellant’s brief itself put it, the CCA has “raised the
threshold showing for a post-trial R.C.M. 706 inquiry to an
insurmountable bar.” All that an appellant has to show for
this inquiry to be ordered is evidence of his impaired mental
health that shows his ability to participate in the proceedings
is fairly debatable. He does not have to prove that he in fact
lacks the mental capacity to proceed. Yet, that seems to be
exactly what the CCA required him to show. While the lower
court said that Appellant has not offered substantial evidence
concerning his mental condition and how it affects his ability
to participate in the proceedings, he has provided copious
proof of his multiple mental illness diagnoses, manic episodes,
hospitalizations, and suicide attempts, including a major psy-
chiatric event just before this Court held oral arguments for
the first time. In light of his recurring pattern of mental
8
United States v. Navarette, No. 20-0195/AR
Opinion of the Court
health crises, hospitalization, treatment, and then relapse
throughout his case, as well as the concerns expressed by his
counsel, we conclude that his capacity to understand and to
conduct or cooperate intelligently in the appellate proceed-
ings is fairly debatable among jurists of reason. Even the Gov-
ernment conceded before the CCA that Appellant had raised
a substantial question as to at least his present mental capac-
ity.3 Nevertheless, the CCA completely disregarded both that
concession and the very reasonable concerns of former appel-
late defense counsel, deciding that “Appellant’s counsel has
not asserted that appellant is unable to understand the na-
ture of the proceedings . . . or cooperate intelligently in the
defense of the case.” Navarette, 2020 CCA LEXIS, at *15,
2020 WL 489355, at *6 (alteration in original) (citation omit-
ted) (internal quotation marks omitted). To the contrary, Cap-
tain Gray explicitly expressed his belief to the CCA in the
R.C.M. 1203 motion that Appellant’s mental illnesses caused
Appellant to have trouble communicating with counsel, which
Captain Gray thought raised “substantial questions about
[A]ppellant’s ability to assist in his own defense.” While Cap-
tain Gray has since withdrawn from the case, Appellant’s cur-
rent lead defense counsel, Captain Godfrey, shares his grave
concern about Appellant’s ability to work with defense coun-
sel. If the assertions of counsel along with all of the evidence
previously cited do not constitute a substantial question, we
query what possibly could. As a result, we conclude that Ap-
pellant has “establish[ed] a nexus between his mental impair-
ment and his ability to participate intelligently in the pro-
ceedings,” Navarette, 79 M.J. at 126, and the CCA’s continued
insistence that Appellant still has not made a sufficient show-
ing cannot stand.
Thus, we hold that the CCA abused its discretion by deny-
ing Appellant’s request for a second time and that an R.C.M.
3 Before us now, the Government acknowledges that concession
regarding an R.C.M. 706 inquiry into Appellant’s post-trial mental
capacity but seems to argue that the CCA did not abuse its discre-
tion by concluding to the contrary. Also, it continues to oppose any
inquiry into Appellant’s mental status at the time of the trial or
offense.
9
United States v. Navarette, No. 20-0195/AR
Opinion of the Court
706 inquiry into Appellant’s mental capacity on appeal should
be ordered.
IV. Judgment
The decision of the United States Army Court of Criminal
Appeals is set aside. The record of trial is returned to the
Judge Advocate General of the Army for remand to that court
for proceedings in accordance with R.C.M. 1203(c)(5). That
court shall order an R.C.M. 706 inquiry. If there are further
proceedings, Articles 66 and 67, UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. §§ 866, 867
(2018), respectively, shall apply.
10
United States v. Navarette, No. 20-0195/AR
Judge MAGGS, with whom Judge HARDY joins,
dissenting.
Congress has decreed that “[t]he Court of Appeals for the
Armed Forces shall take action only with respect to matters
of law.” Article 67(c)(4), Uniform Code of Military Justice
(UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. § 867(c)(4) (2018). One consequence of this
limitation is that this Court has no authority to question the
Government’s prosecutorial priorities. Similarly, unless de-
fense counsel’s performance falls below the standard de-
scribed in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984), we
have no reason to second-guess defense counsel’s strategy and
tactics. Perhaps these consequences are for the best because
judges of this Court know only what is in the record, and liti-
gation choices often depend on circumstances that are not ev-
ident to us.
We previously remanded this case to the United States
Army Court of Criminal Appeals (ACCA) to give “appellate
defense counsel the opportunity to make a showing of nexus
between Appellant’s significant and documented mental
health issues and his capacity to participate in appellate pro-
ceedings.” United States v. Navarette, 79 M.J. 123, 127
(C.A.A.F. 2019). On remand, the ACCA concluded that appel-
late defense counsel had not made this showing and conse-
quently denied Appellant’s request for a post-trial sanity
hearing under Rule for Courts-Martial (R.C.M.) 1203(c)(5)
(2016). United States v. Navarette, No. ARMY 20160786, 2020
CCA LEXIS 31, at *11–12, 2020 WL 489355, *4–5 (A. Ct.
Crim. App. Jan. 29, 2020). The sole question of law in this
case is whether the ACCA abused its discretion in making
this decision. I conclude that it did not.
As I explain below, appellate defense counsel presented
nothing to the ACCA that could establish the required nexus
between his mental health and his capacity to participate in
appellate proceedings until after the ACCA had rendered its
decision in this case. Only then did a former appellate defense
counsel prepare a sworn statement specifically alleging rep-
resentation difficulties linked to Appellant’s condition. The
record does not reveal why this former appellate defense
counsel chose not to provide this statement earlier. But I can-
not agree that the ACCA abused its discretion based on the
United States v. Navarette, No. 20-0159/AR
Judge Maggs, dissenting
documents before the court when it issued its opinion. I there-
fore respectfully dissent.
I. Discussion
A. This Court’s Interpretation of R.C.M. 1203(c)(5)
and the ACCA’s Decision on Remand
R.C.M. 1203(c)(5) addresses concerns about the compe-
tency of the accused during appellate proceedings. This rule
provides in relevant part:
If a substantial question is raised as to the requisite
mental capacity of the accused, the appellate author-
ity may direct that the record be forwarded to an ap-
propriate authority for an examination of the ac-
cused in accordance with R.C.M. 706, but the
examination may be limited to determining the ac-
cused’s present capacity to understand and cooper-
ate in the appellate proceedings.
R.C.M. 1203(c)(5). In our previous decision in this case, we
interpreted this rule to require a nexus between an appel-
lant’s mental health and his or her competence. Navarette, 79
M.J. at 126. We remanded the case to the ACCA so that it
could determine whether such a nexus exists. Id. at 127.
On remand, the ACCA determined that Appellant had
failed to make the requisite showing. The ACCA explained:
Appellant has had multiple opportunities to provide
a nexus between his bipolar diagnosis and his
mental capacity—both before this court and our
superior court—and has still failed to articulate how
his mental health diagnoses prevent him from being
able to understand or participate in his appellate
proceedings.
Navarette, 2020 CCA LEXIS 31, at *14, 2020 WL 489355, at
*5. Appellant appeals this decision to this Court.
B. Whether the ACCA Abused Its Discretion
Appellate defense counsel in this appeal argue that the
ACCA abused its discretion in denying him a hearing under
R.C.M. 1203(c)(5). A court abuses its discretion if (1) its deci-
sion rests on findings of fact that are clearly erroneous, (2) an
erroneous view of the law influenced the decision, or (3) the
decision “is outside the range of choices reasonably arising
from the applicable facts and the law.” United States v. Finch,
2
United States v. Navarette, No. 20-0159/AR
Judge Maggs, dissenting
79 M.J. 389, 394 (C.A.A.F. 2020) (quoting United States v.
Frost, 79 M.J. 104, 109 (C.A.A.F. 2019)). Here, appellate de-
fense counsel asserts that the ACCA’s statement that he
failed to establish a nexus between his mental health condi-
tion and his competency to assist on appeal is “simply wrong.”
In briefs submitted to this Court, appellate defense coun-
sel cite considerable evidence that Appellant has serious men-
tal health concerns. But appellate defense counsel’s conten-
tion that a nexus exists between Appellant’s competency and
his ability to assist in his representation on appeal ultimately
rests on a sworn statement by one of his former appellate de-
fense counsel—a statement that appellate defense counsel
cite sixteen times in their opening brief. In this sworn state-
ment, the former appellate defense counsel avers:
At present, I have substantial questions about the
accuracy of SPC Navarette’s recollections and his
ability to identify and communicate all relevant in-
formation in order for me to effectively represent
him on appeal. Moreover, I have no way of knowing
what material information SPC Navarette’s mental
illness may have prevented him from disclosing. In
short, I had, and continue to have, substantial ques-
tions about SPC Navarette’s competency to assist in
appellate proceedings.
This sworn statement, in my view, would suffice to estab-
lish a nexus between Appellant’s mental health problems and
his competency to participate in the appellate proceedings be-
fore the ACCA and this Court because doubts about the accu-
racy of Appellant’s recollections and his ability to identify and
communicate relevant information relate to his ability to as-
sist in his defense. But this sworn statement does not estab-
lish that the ACCA abused its discretion in denying Appel-
lant’s motion because the former appellate defense counsel
prepared the sworn statement only after the ACCA had al-
ready announced its decision.
The relevant time line is as follows:
On August 1, 2019, this Court issued its opinion remand-
ing the case to the ACCA. Navarette, 79 M.J. at 127. In that
opinion, this Court specifically told the ACCA to determine
whether a nexus existed between Appellant’s mental condi-
tion and his capacity to represent himself on appeal. Id.
3
United States v. Navarette, No. 20-0159/AR
Judge Maggs, dissenting
On October 21, 2019, in response to our decision, Appel-
lant filed a renewed “Motion to Stay the Proceedings and Mo-
tion for R.C.M. 706 Inquiry” and a motion to attach several
exhibits.1 The motion and attached exhibits include various
representations about Appellant’s competency. These docu-
ments, however, contained nothing specifically describing a
nexus between Appellant’s mental condition and his ability to
assist with his appeal.
On January 29, 2020, the ACCA denied Appellant’s re-
quest for an R.C.M. 706 inquiry in the opinion that we are
now reviewing. The ACCA’s determination that Appellant
“has still failed to articulate how his mental health diagnoses
prevent him from being able to understand or participate in
his appellate proceedings” was entirely accurate based on the
information before the ACCA at the time of its decision.
Navarette, 2020 CCA LEXIS 31, at *14, 2020 WL 489355, at
*5.
On February 7, 2020, in response to the ACCA’s ruling,
appellate defense counsel filed a motion for reconsideration
and en banc reconsideration. Only at this point did appellate
defense counsel attach the sworn statement on which they
now so heavily rely.
On February 19, 2020, the ACCA summarily denied the
motion for reconsideration.
This time line shows that the ACCA was not “simply
wrong” in stating in its opinion that appellate defense counsel
had failed to establish a nexus between his mental health con-
dition and his competency to assist on appeal. The ACCA
could not have considered a sworn statement that was not be-
fore it at the time of its decision. United States v. Sessions, 10
C.M.A. 383, 387, 27 C.M.R. 457, 461 (1959) (holding that
when a “ruling is reviewable only for abuse of discretion” the
“discretion is to be exercised in the light of the evidence before
[the decision-maker] at the time he makes his ruling”). The
1 Appellant attached his medical records dated May 2019 from
an April 2019 hospitalization and a sworn statement from the fo-
rensic psychologist, which outlined the general impact of bipolar
disorder. Appellant also attached a CV of another forensic psycholo-
gist as a recommended member of a potential R.C.M. 706 board.
4
United States v. Navarette, No. 20-0159/AR
Judge Maggs, dissenting
ACCA therefore did not abuse its discretion in denying a
hearing under R.C.M. 1203(c)(5).
C. Possible Counterarguments
Appellate defense counsel make a counterargument in a
letter submitted to the Court after oral argument. In the let-
ter, appellate defense counsel concede that the sworn state-
ment on which they so heavily relied was not before the ACCA
when the ACCA rendered its decision. But appellate defense
counsel argue that the sworn statement was similar to repre-
sentations appearing in Appellant’s October 21, 2019, motion
to the ACCA. I agree that much of the content of the sworn
statement is similar to representations in the motion. But
that is not enough to render the ACCA’s decision an abuse of
discretion because only the sworn statement specifically estab-
lishes a nexus between Appellant’s mental condition and his
ability to assist with his appeal.
Another possible counterargument (not expressly made by
appellate defense counsel but perhaps implied by their ap-
peal) is that the ACCA abused its discretion by not reconsid-
ering its decision after the former defense counsel submitted
the sworn statement. I find no support for this counterargu-
ment in the ACCA’s Rules of Appellate Procedure. These rules
provide that “[o]rdinarily, reconsideration will not be granted
without a showing” of one or more listed circumstances.
A.C.C.A. R. 31.2(b). None of these circumstances appears to
be present here.
One of the listed circumstances is that a “factual matter
was overlooked.” A.C.C.A. R. 31.2(b)(1). But in this case, the
ACCA did not “overlook” the representations in the sworn
statement when it rendered its decision. It could not overlook
a sworn statement that the former appellate defense counsel
had not yet prepared.
Another listed circumstance for granting reconsideration
is that “[n]ew information is received that raises a substantial
issue as to the mental responsibility of the accused at the time
of the offense or the accused’s mental capacity to stand trial.”
A.C.C.A. R. 31.2(b)(4). This circumstance does not expressly
extend to receipt of new information about an appellant’s
mental capacity to assist on appeal. But even if it did, the
ACCA could conclude, without abusing its discretion, that the
5
United States v. Navarette, No. 20-0159/AR
Judge Maggs, dissenting
sworn statement at issue here did not contain “new infor-
mation.”
Nothing in the sworn statement indicates that a nexus be-
tween Appellant’s condition and his ability to assist with his
appeal arose only after October 21, 2019, when appellate de-
fense counsel filed the motion for a mental examination and
the supporting exhibits. Appellate defense counsel also did
not characterize the sworn statement as providing new infor-
mation in their motion for consideration. On the contrary, ap-
pellate defense counsel asserted the opposite in the motion for
reconsideration, saying:
Appellate defense counsel, having never met [Spe-
cialist (SPC)] Navarette in person or had the oppor-
tunity to meet with those close to him, has had to
form his impressions of SPC Navarette’s competency
wholly from the content of conversations with SPC
Navarette and the affidavits and records already
submitted to this court.
Accordingly, I see no grounds for concluding that the ACCA
abused its discretion in denying the motion for
reconsideration.2
Consistent with my view that the ACCA did not abuse its
discretion in denying the motion for reconsideration, the
Court today properly declines to rely on the former appellate
defense counsel’s sworn statement. United States v.
Navarette, __ M.J. __, __ n.2 (6 n.2) (C.A.A.F. 2021). Instead,
as the key support for its decision, the Court relies on a state-
ment in the motion for a hearing under R.C.M. 1203(c)(5) that
Appellant filed upon remand. Id. at __ (9). In the motion, ap-
pellate defense counsel asserted:
In light of [Appellant’s] most recent diagnosis with
bipolar disorder, counsel himself has a substantial
question not just about appellant’s present compe-
tency, but about his competency during essential pe-
riods of his appellate representation before this
2 This Court similarly denies motions for reconsideration when
the losing party primarily seeks reconsideration based on infor-
mation that the losing party could have presented at an earlier time
but did not. See, e.g., United States v. Bergdahl, 80 M.J. 362(C.A.A.F. 2020) (order denying petition for reconsideration and mo-
tion to supplement the record).
6
United States v. Navarette, No. 20-0159/AR
Judge Maggs, dissenting
Court. As such, to the extent this Court finds it rele-
vant, appellate defense counsel had, and continues
to have, substantial questions about appellant’s abil-
ity to assist in his own defense.
The Court’s reliance on this statement is misplaced because
when this case was previously before this Court, we held that
the ACCA did not abuse its discretion in concluding that
nearly identical assertions were insufficient to establish a
nexus between Appellant’s mental condition and his compe-
tency to assist on appeal. See Navarette, 79 M.J. at 126.
During his initial appeal to the ACCA, in moving for a stay
of the proceedings and a hearing under R.C.M. 1203(c)(5), ap-
pellate defense counsel wrote: “This new diagnosis [of bipolar
disorder] raises substantial questions as to appellant’s ability
to have appreciated the wrongfulness of his action at the time
of the offenses.” Appellate defense counsel then listed other
questions also raised by the diagnosis, including: “Is appel-
lant currently suffering from a mental disease or defect ren-
dering him unable to understand the nature of the appellate
proceedings or cooperate intelligently in his appeal?”
The ACCA denied Appellant’s motion on grounds that “ap-
pellant’s counsel has not asserted any actual claim that ap-
pellant ‘is unable to understand the nature of the proceedings
. . . or cooperate intelligently in the defense of the case.’ ”
United States v. Navarette, No. ARMY 20160786, 2018 CCA
LEXIS 446 at 5, 2018 WL 4510119, at *2 (A. Ct. Crim. App.
Sept. 17, 2018) (alteration in original) (quoting R.C.M.
909(a)). We affirmed, holding: “[A]n appellant must, at a min-
imum, articulate how his mental condition prevents him from
being able to understand or participate in the proceedings.”
Navarette, 79 M.J. at 126. We further held that a diagnosis of
a mental disorder by itself is insufficient to raise a substantial
question about a client’s competency to assist on appeal. In-
stead, we explained, “[a]ppellate defense counsel might raise
a substantial question by presenting documents or averring
facts showing a nexus between Appellant’s mental illness and
an inability to participate in the proceedings.” Id. at 126 n.5.
Accordingly, just as appellate defense counsel failed to
establish the requisite nexus in his initial motion for a
hearing under R.C.M. 1203(c)(5), he also failed to establish a
substantial question when he used nearly identical language
7
United States v. Navarette, No. 20-0159/AR
Judge Maggs, dissenting
in his motion upon remand. Perhaps this case could have been
litigated differently. Perhaps appellate defense counsel could
have filed his sworn statement at an earlier time. But the
bottom line is that when the ACCA made its decision, the
ACCA was correct in stating that “Appellant . . . had multiple
opportunities to provide a nexus between his bipolar
diagnosis and his mental capacity . . . and . . . still failed to
articulate how his mental health diagnoses prevent him from
being able to understand or participate in his appellate
proceedings.” Navarette, 2020 CCA LEXIS 31, at *14, 2020
WL 489355, at *5.
II. Conclusion
The choices that counsel representing the parties in this
case have made are not “matters of law” before this Court.
The only matter of law is the question of whether the ACCA
abused its discretion in denying a hearing pursuant to R.C.M.
1203(c)(5) as this Court has interpreted that rule. I would an-
swer this question in the negative because when the ACCA
made its decision, appellate defense counsel had not made a
showing specifically establishing a nexus between Appellant’s
mental health condition and his ability to assist with his ap-
peal. I therefore would affirm the decision of the ACCA.
8