Lori Vallow: 'Doomsday Mom' appears in court as Arizona judge orders her to finish competency evaluation

PHOENIX - Lori Vallow, the so-called ‘Doomsday Mom’ who was found guilty of killing her two children in Idaho, appeared in court on Nov. 20 as part of court proceedings over her mental competency evaluation process.

This hearing came after a Rule 11 hearing on Nov. 14 that Vallow refused to show up for. Per the Maricopa County Superior Court's website, the Forensic Services Division evaluates defendants for competency in criminal cases under Rule 11. It was Vallow's former defense lawyer who filed a motion for the Rule 11 evaluation.

Competency evaluation requested by Vallow's previous lawyers

According to prosecutors during the Nov. 14 hearing, Vallow's new defense team, which replaced her previous court-appointed lawyers, advised her to not cooperate with the two court-appointed experts. Prior to that hearing, on Nov. 1, Vallow's new lawyers also moved to withdraw the mental evaluation request.

In court, Vallow's attorney said there is no record of irrational behavior, and that one doctor had deemed her competent. Pamela Hicks stated that while the second doctor appointed to the case has not met with Vallow yet, the defense remains adamant that Vallow does not need to be evaluated for competency.

"She has the sufficient capacity to understand the nature of the dispute," said Pamela Hicks. "We now have had a couple of conversations."

This is not the first time Vallow has been at the center of a competency proceeding: she was found unfit to stand trial in Idaho back in 2021, spending 10 months in a state hospital before being restored to competency. In court on Nov. 20, the presiding judge reminded Vallow's defense team of that.

Vallow spoke in court

Lori Vallow (MCSO)

During the court proceeding, Vallow spoke to the presiding judge. She answered a series of questions about her being restored to competency in Idaho.

"Were you ever previously determined to be incompetent at any point?" the presiding judge asked Vallow.

"Not to my understanding," Vallow replied. "So, my understanding is that the lawyers did the same thing that you did, in an abundance of caution. ‘Let’s go ahead and put her in and see,’ and I came out competent."

"Well, when you say you came out competent, was there a period of time where you were ruled as incompetent?" the presiding judge asked.

"I would say technically they did do that," Vallow replied. "That’s how they put you into the program in that state."

Vallow also said she took competency classes.

"I did go through a process of several things," said Vallow. "Several classes, competency class. Meeting with doctors, evaluators. Many, many evaluators."

"Are you aware of any diagnosis that you were given?" the presiding judge asked Vallow.

"Yes," Vallow answered.

"And what is that?" the judge asked. Vallow's lawyers, however, quickly cut her off and objected to that information being heard on the record, leading to a sidebar.

Per Cornell Law School's Legal Information Institute, sidebar refers to an area in front of or next to the judge's bench that is removed from the witness stand and the jury box. It's a place where "judges will often call attorneys to speak confidentially with the judge privately so that the jury cannot hear what is discussed." The term also refers to the participation in such discussions.

Eventually, the presiding judge said that, per Vallow's prior attorneys, she suffers from delusions, and that by Vallow's own account, she was deemed incompetent for 10 months in Idaho. He said the Rule 11 process should continue based on those factors. Prosecutors then suggest appointing a replacement doctor if the defense is uncomfortable, as the doctor in question reportedly saw a television program on Vallow. The defense eventually motioned for a replacement, which was granted by the presiding judge.

As for the issue on whether Vallow can represent herself in court, the presiding judge said if she does represent herself, she can go to trial as soon as she is ready.