A competency hearing for Bradford Gille, the suspect in a mass stabbing attack at Walmart in July, was delayed Friday for another week in order to consolidate proceedings under one judge in the case. The Grand Traverse County Prosecutor's Office has indicated it is likely Gille will be found incompetent, requiring a period of treatment to attempt to restore him to competency - though the defense in the case could still seek a separate independent evaluation of his competency.

Judge Robert Cooney was scheduled to determine in a hearing Friday whether Gille - who is being held on a $1 million bond and is facing one terrorism charge and eleven charges of assault with intent to murder stemming from the Walmart attack - is competent to stand trial. Legal statute requires such a hearing to be held within five days of a report being received on a suspect's competency. Such a report for Gille was delivered on August 12. Judge Michael Stepka is the judge assigned to Gille's case, but was unavailable Friday - leading Cooney to be assigned the hearing in order to meet the court's deadline.

However, Cooney and attorneys on both sides of the case agreed it would be best to adjourn the hearing and reschedule it under Stepka when he's available on Friday, August 22 at 11:30am. Cooney said there would likely be multiple future hearings related to Gille's competency - particularly if the defense requests a second independent evaluation - and that Stepka should hear all of that expert testimony directly and maintain a consistent presence overseeing the case. Cooney adjourned Friday's hearing to allow Stepka to resume his oversight of the case next week.

Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg indicated in a victim update email that it's "highly unlikely" Gille will be found competent to stand trial. If found incompetent, a forensic center will have 15 months "during which time they will treat the defendant in an attempt to restore him to competency," the email states. "The case will be stayed, meaning nothing will happen with the case until the defendant is deemed competent."

The email also notes that "the defendant may also ask the court to allow him to have an independent examiner complete an evaluation. If this occurs, the case will be on hold until that evaluation is received and then the competency hearing will be held."

Moeggenberg tells The Ticker that if Gille is found incompotent, periodic check-ins will occur during the time period of working to restore him to competency to determine his progress. If he is still found incompetent to stand trial at the end of that time period, institutionalization is a possible outcome of the case. However, "the psychologist who did the (evaluation) believes he can be restored to competency," Moeggenberg says.