Elizabeth Smart Case Summary

The Elizabeth Smart Case featured Brian David Mitchell, who entered a claim of "incompetence to stand trial." The main charge was kidnapping and transporting a minor across state lines with intent to engage in sexual activity. The following is a summary of both the case and trial, plus its impact on the criminal justice system and the accused's use or mis-use of the claim of "incompetence to stand trial".

On June 5, 2002, in Salt Lake City, Utah, Brian David Mitchell abducted Elizabeth Smart, who was fourteen years of age and considered a minor, from her bedroom. A witness to the event is Mary Katherine Smart, her 9-year-old sister whom with she shared the bedroom at the time pretending to be sleep. After he took her into a canyon located
Stephen Golding, a psychologist hired by the defense, who concluded that Mitchell was delusional and not competent to stand trial. Golding was then superseded by the court, finding Mitchell to be the opposite. As the trial went on, Dr. Jennifer Skeem, who initially concluded that Mitchell was competent reevaluated him, then his attorney, Heidi Buchi, claimed he was no longer competent to stand trial. Mitchell's behavior became devious in court while remaining the same in jail. Judy Atherton, judge of the case, agreed that Mitchell was showing signs insanity. After being re-admitted to Utah State hospital from August 11, 2005 to the year 2008, staff claimed him to not have shown any signs of mental illness.

During that period, in February 2006, a bill went before the Utah legislature to allow prosecutors to apply for forcible medication on defendants to restore their competence to face trial. Permission to forcibly medicate Wanda Barzee was also sought, relying upon the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Sell v. United States (2003), which permits compulsory medication when the state can demonstrate a compelling interest is served by restoring a person's competence and that medication would not harm the person or prevent him