Ryan v. Gonzales, No. 10-930; U.S. Supreme Court; opinion by Thomas, J.; decided January 8, 2013*. On certiorari to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Respondent Valencia Gonzales, a death-row inmate in Arizona, sought federal habeas relief. His counsel moved to stay the proceedings, contending that Gonzales’ mental incompetence prevented him from rationally communicating with or assisting counsel, and that Gonzales was thus entitled to a stay because, under the Ninth Circuit’s Rohan decision, what is now 18 U.S.C. § 3599(a)(2) requires a stay when a petitioner is adjudged incompetent.
