Competence attacks have become a common way to attempt to defend child exploitation cases from the outset, and to argue for mitigated sentences post-conviction. This presentation will address how to respond to competence issues raised by defendants who are ill, aging and demented, or on the autism spectrum, and how to address sentencing arguments made by the same defendants after conviction. This workshop will only be recorded and available On-Demand from August 10, 2020 until December 31, 2020.
Learning Objectives:
Recognize and respond to different forms of competence issues raised by defendants in criminal cases
Understand the legal standards for competence, and know what to look for (in your investigation, and in the defendant's records), in order to evaluate claims of imcompetence
Be familiar with ways to counter and address competence issues used for mitigation at sentencing hearings