Washington legal term
Genuine doubt as to competency in Washington Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Washington legislative session
In Washington criminal law, “Genuine doubt as to competency” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Washington criminal code.
What does “Genuine doubt as to competency” mean in Washington criminal law?
"Genuine doubt as to competency" means that there is reasonable cause to believe, based upon actual interactions with or observations of the defendant or information provided by counsel, that a defendant is incompetent to stand trial. (RCW 10.77.010)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.