Adjudicative competence

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia


Adjudicative competence, also referred to as competence to stand trial, is a legal construct describing the criminal defendant's ability to understand and participate in legal proceedings.[1][2] This includes the defendant's current ability to participate in various pleas and waivers of rights. It is unrelated to any possibility of an insanity plea. It is also unrelated to the ability of the defendant to represent himself, or to any evaluation of mitigation factors.[3] The definition of adjudicative competence was provided by the United States Supreme Court in Dusky v. United States.

An empirical basis for the clinical assessment of competence has not yet been established.

See also[edit | edit source]

Footnotes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "The MacArthur Adjudicative Competence Study". The MacArthur Research Network on Mental Health and the Law. Archived from the original on 2 December 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (help)
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ Richard E.; Redding, J.D. (2000). "Adjudicative Competence in Juveniles -- Adjudicative Competence in Practice". Juvenile Forensic Evaluation Resource Center. Archived from the original on 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2007-11-25. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (help)

External links[edit | edit source]


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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD