Judge rejects Tom Girardi's defense lawyer expert as hearing over mental state approaches

An Aug. 23 hearing is to determine if the estranged husband of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne is competent to be tried for his criminal fraud charges.

Tom Girardi and his lawyer Craig Harbaugh at the Roybal federal courthouse in Los Angeles on Feb. 6, 2023. (Photo by Meghann M. Cuniff)

Disbarred California power lawyer Tom Girardi’s mental competency hearing will include testimony from experts, but a longtime criminal defense attorney who recently evaluated him for his public defenders won’t be one of …