Section 15.8 Competence to Enter a Plea

• Library: Criminal Practice 2012 Supp

3. (§15.8) Competence to Enter a Plea

The standard for determining a defendant’s competence to plead guilty is essentially the same as that for determining if a defendant is competent to proceed to trial. Wilkins v. State, 802 S.W.2d 491 (Mo. banc 1991); State v. Hunter, 840 S.W.2d 850 (Mo. banc 1992).

In Westfall v. State, 916 S.W.2d 365 (Mo. App. E.D. 1996), the defendant, in his Rule 24.035 motion, alleged ineffective assistance of counsel for failure to request a mental evaluation...