Lawrence: Deference to Florida Competency determination

In Lawrence v. Sec. Dep’t of Corrections, No. 10-13862 (Oct. 30, 2012), the Court affirmed the denial of habeas relief to a Florida inmate sentenced to death for a 1998 murder. The Court held that, under AEDPA’s deferential standard of review, the Florida courts did not unreasonably determine that, despite suggestions that the defendant was experiencing "hallucinations" during the trial, he was competent to stand trial, pointing inter alia to evidence that the defendant was merely "having a bout with his conscience."