Making mentally ill defendants ready for trial

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — The judge ascended the bench. He looked down at cafeteria-style tables marked “Prosecuting Attorney” and “Defense Attorney.” To his left, two men sat in a box marked “Jury.” The witness stand was marked “Witness.”

“Sustained,” proclaimed the judge, who wore a striped polo shirt, a thick goatee and a shock of greasy hair. He gave the gavel a sharp bang and waved it around, bringing the court to something resembling order, at least by the standards of a mock trial involving people who have been deemed mentally incompetent to participate in a real one.