Competence to Stand Trial in Florida

The Florida law of competence to stand trial has recently undergone a number of significant reforms and innovations. To achieve these reforms and to protect the rights of incompetent defendants adequately, criminal defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, and professionals in mental health must acquaint themselves with these changes. The authors analyze the new rules and statutory provisions and discuss how the courts will interpret and apply these new provisions in light of case law and constitutional mandates.