By Richard Luthmann
Virginia blogger Paul Boyne, who has been jailed for over 15 months on charges of cyberstalking Connecticut judges, continues to face a grueling legal battle. The latest development involves a controversial competency evaluation, which threatens to delay his trial indefinitely.
Let’s be clear: Paul Boyne is competent.
However, his refusal to participate in the evaluation has led the court to question his mental fitness. Legally, he has no obligation to do so, and the state must marshal clear and convincing evidence to overcome the presumption that he is competent.
At the same time, Boyne himself has raised concerns about the competency of his own legal representation.
In a recorded conversation with journalist Richard Luthmann, Boyne expressed his frustration with the court’s focus on his mental health, saying, “They keep trying to paint me as mentally incompetent. I didn’t participate in their evaluation, so now the judge gave the state more time to dig up dirt on me. It’s all about keeping me in jail.”