For the third time since his arrest in 2003, a court will hold a competency hearing for the man charged in the 2002 abduction of Elizabeth Smart.

The 10-day hearing for Brian David Mitchell begins Monday in Utah's U.S. District Court.

U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball will ultimately decide whether the 56-year-old former street preacher is competent to stand trial.

It's unclear how long Kimball will take to issue a ruling. His decision will determine how the case will proceed _ toward a trial if Mitchell is competent or an effort to restore Mitchell's competency if he is not.

The hearing will be Mitchell's first in federal court, but it's a replay of state court proceedings where Mitchell was twice deemed incompetent for trial.

Diagnosed with a rare delusional disorder Mitchell _ who sings hymn incessantly during court appearances and once yelled at a judge to 'repent' _ has been primarily held at the Utah State Hospital and has refused treatment. Last year, a state judge refused to order forced medication for Mitchell, saying she was not convinced that anti-psychotic drugs would restore his competency.

A self-described prophet of God, Mitchell was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2008 on charges of kidnapping and unlawful transportation of a minor. A state case, where he is charged with multiple felonies, has been held up over the competency issue.

Smart was just 14 on June 5, 2002, when she was taken from her home at knifepoint and held captive for nine months. At an October hearing, Smart said she was forced to become Mitchell's second wife in a religious ceremony and then raped.

Smart was recovered in March 2003 after motorists saw her walking a suburban street with Mitchell and his now-estranged wife, Wanda Eileen Barzee.

Federal prosecutors contend Mitchell is faking psychiatric symptoms in order to avoid prosecution _ an opinion supported by a report by New York forensic psychiatrist Dr. Michael Welner, who was paid to evaluate Mitchell.

The full 206-page report is not yet public, but excerpt of it in court documents show Welner disputes the findings of previous evaluations of Mitchell. According to Welner, Mitchell, 56, suffers from an anti-social personality disorder, psychopathy, alcohol abuse and malingering _ faking or exaggerating symptoms.

Welner will be a key witness for prosecutors, who contend his report is the most complete evaluation of Mitchell ever done, despite Mitchell's refusal to cooperate.