California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Rodrigues, 36 Cal.Rptr.2d 235, 8 Cal.4th 1060, 885 P.2d 1 (Cal. 1994):
The relevant principles may be summarized as follows. "A trial court is required to conduct a competence hearing, sua sponte if necessary, whenever there is substantial evidence of mental incompetence. [Citations.] Substantial evidence for these purposes is evidence that raises a reasonable doubt on the issue. [Citation.]" (People v. Howard, supra, 1 Cal.4th at p. 1163, 5 Cal.Rptr.2d 268, 824 P.2d 1315.) " 'The court's duty to conduct a competency hearing arises when such evidence is presented at any time "prior to judgment." [Citations.]' " (People v. Danielson (1992) 3 Cal.4th 691, 726, 13 Cal.Rptr.2d 1, 838 P.2d 729.)
Defendant contends that substantial evidence of incompetence appears in the record,
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