Know Your Rights

It is settled that, if evidence available to a trial judge raises a bona fide doubt regarding a defendant's ability to understand and participate in the proceedings against him, the judge has an obligation to order an examination to assess his competency, even if the defendant does not request such an exam. Drope v. Missouri, [466 U.S. 984 , 986] 420 U.S. 162 (1975); Pate v. Robinson, 383 U.S. 375 (1966).

PORTER v. MCKASKLE , 466 U.S. 984 (1984)