A doctor who examined Giorgianni during his month-long stay at a federal prison facility said in court testimony she diagnosed Giorgianni with narcissistic personality disorder.
TRENTON - Joseph "JoJo" Giorgianni may be a bit eccentric, but he is mentally fit to stand trial on federal corruption charges along with Trenton Mayor Tony Mack in a case set for trial next month, a federal judge ruled today.
Following three evaluations by two doctors - one during a 30-day stay at a federal prison facility this fall - Giorgianni was determined not to have a mental illness, reports referred to during today's court hearing said.
Federal law mandates that in order to be competent to stand trial, a defendant must have both an understanding of court procedures and be able to help the attorney representing them.
Judge Michael A. Shipp said Giorgianni's knowledge of the court system was never in doubt, and today he ruled Giorgianni met the second standard as well.
"Mr. Giorgianni is able to assist in his own defense, and as such he is competent to stand trial," Shipp said.
In August, Giorgianni and his attorney Jerome Ballarotto filed to have Giorgianni declared mentally incompetent. If Shipp had ruled Giorgianni was mentally unfit to stand trial, he would have been placed in a mental facility for treatment and criminal charges put on hold until Giorgianni was deemed fit for trial.
Giorgianni was indicted with Mack and Mack's brother Ralphiel last year on extortion, bribery, wire fraud and mail fraud. Shipp is set to hear arguments to separate Giorgianni's trial from the Mack brothers' court case.
Leaning forward in his wheelchair parked at the defense table and peering through spectacles, Giorgianni listened intently today to the testimony. Miriam Kissin, who examined Giorgianni five times at Federal Medical Center Devens in Massachusetts, participated in the hearing via conference call.
Kissin said that, while she believes Giorgianni has no psychotic ailments, she diagnosed him with narcissistic personality disorder.
"Individuals see themselves as important, special," Kissin said. "They may make claims about themselves that are not true, they may make exaggerated claims about themselves, and they may make some claims that are totally fabricated."
The heart of that diagnosis, Kissin said, came from "grandiose" claims by Giorgianni about his financial state, famous people he knows, and intelligence level.
"In addition, he would often present himself in a haughty manner and he had expectations of being treated differently from others, especially given the situation he was in," Kissin testified under oath today.
In cross-examining Kissin, Ballarotto admitted his own "difficulties" with his client in trial preparation. Ballarotto shared with Kissin some of the trouble he was having with Giorgianni to prepare her for his client's month-long stay at the facility.
Ballarotto said the judge's decision was neither a win nor a loss for them.
"He's healthy," Ballarotto said of Giorgianni. "I need for him to be healthy to help me."
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