Nebraska Revised Statutes

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2537 (2026)

Convicted person; appears to be incompetent; notice to judge; suspend sentence; commission appointed; findings; suspension of execution; when; annual review

✓ current as of July 2026
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(1) If any convicted person under sentence of death shall appear to be incompetent, the Director of Correctional Services shall forthwith give notice thereof to a judge of the district court of the judicial district in which the convicted person was tried and sentenced and such judge shall at once make such investigation as shall satisfy him or her as to whether a commission ought to be named to examine such convicted person.

(2) If the court determines that there is not sufficient reason for the appointment of a commission, the court shall so find and refuse to suspend the execution of the convicted person. If the court determines that a commission ought to be appointed to examine such convicted person, the court shall make a finding to that effect and cause it to be entered upon the records of the district court in the county in which such convicted person was sentenced, and, if necessary, the court shall suspend the execution and appoint three licensed mental health professionals employed by the state as a commission to examine such convicted person. The commission shall examine the convicted person to determine whether he or she is competent or incompetent and shall report its findings in writing to the court within ten days after its appointment. If two members of the commission find the convicted person incompetent, the court shall suspend the convicted person's execution until further order. Thereafter, the court shall appoint a commission annually to review the convicted person's competency. The results of such review shall be provided to the court. If the convicted person is subsequently found to be competent by two members of the commission, the court shall certify that finding to the Supreme Court which shall then establish a date for the enforcement of the convicted person's sentence.

(3) The standard for the determination of competency under this section shall be the same as the standard for determining competency to stand trial.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 6 cases, 1985–2001 · leading case: Ford v. Wainwright, 477 U.S. 399 (1986).
Ford v. Wainwright, 477 U.S. 399 (1986). · cites it 4× “§ 46-14-221 (1984); Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-2537 (1979); Nev. Rev.”
Otey v. State, 485 N.W.2d 153 (Neb. 1992). · cites it 2× “Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 29-2537 and 29-2541 (Reissue 1989).”
State v. Perry, 610 So. 2d 746 (La. 1992). “§§ 46-19-201 to -202 (1985); Neb.Rev.Stat. § 29-2537 *769 to -2538 (1978); Nev.”
Victor v. Hopkins, 890 F. Supp. 844 (D. Neb. 1995). · cites it 8× “xecution pending Petitioner’s exhaustion of state remedies, claiming that (1) Petitioner is entitled under Nebraska law to bring a second post-conviction proceeding because the basis now being relied upon for relief was not available to him when his first post-conviction action…”
Amaya-Ruiz v. Stewart, 136 F. Supp. 2d 1014 (D. Ariz. 2001). “§ 46-19-202 (providing opportunity to request hearing on whether defendant regained fitness to be executed); Neb.Rev.Stat. § 29-2537 (providing for successive examination and investigation upon belief defendant has become mentally competent); N.”
Ford ex rel. Ford v. Wainwright, 752 F.2d 526 (11th Cir. 1985). “(1983); Neb.Rev.Stat. § 29-2537 et seq. (1979); Nev.”
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