Washington v. Higa

Defendant Katsutoshi Higa appeals his conviction for first degree possession of stolen property and attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle. Higas appeal presents two issues for review. First, was it an abuse of the trial courts discretion to proceed to trial without a formal evidentiary hearing to determine Higas competency to stand trial, when the circumstances of the charged offense were bizarre and after Higa displayed aberrant and disruptive courtroom behavior? Second, did the trial court deny Higas due process rights by refusing to interpose a not guilty by reason of insanity plea despite Higas explicit objection to such a plea or by not at least conducting an appropriate inquiry to determine whether such a plea ought to be interposed? After reviewing the holdings in State v. Johnston, 84 Wash. 2d 572, 527 P.2d 1310 (1974) and State v.