Michael has been charged with murder, but he does not seem to understand the charge against him. He does not seem to understand that if he pleads guilty, he is going to go to prison. His attorney has been trying to work with him to no avail; Michael has not been rational the entire time he has been in custody. Since a defendant's competence is only evaluated in terms of one's ability to stand trial, it is likely that he will just be advised to go ahead and enter a plea.

Question

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A defendant's competence to stand trial involves understanding the charges against them and being able to participate in their defense. If Michael cannot understand the charge or the consequences of a plea, a court may find him incompetent to stand trial, leading to a possible evaluation and treatment to restore competence before proceeding.

Michael Has Been Charged with Murder, but He Does Not