Drope v. Missouri (Supreme Court, 1975): The Supreme Court held that any evidence of a defendant’s possible incompetence to stand trial must be addressed regardless of the stage of proceedings. The court found a number of factors may call for a competency evaluation: (1) Evidence of a defendant’s irrational behavior; (2) The defendant’s demeanor at trial; (3) Any prior medical opinion on the defendant’s competency. While all of these factors are relevant in determining further inquiry into competency, just one factor is sufficient to warrant further investigation.
Forensic & Psychological Assessments