What are the "magic words" required by the trial court to determine that a defendant is competent to stand trial?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Sanders, B263073 (Cal. App. 2016):

If the court determines that the defendant is competent to stand trial, the court must "make clear on the record that it was making that determination." (People v. Marks (1988) 45 Cal.3d 1335, 1342.) Although "no 'magic words' are required of the trial court," at a minimum the trial court must "expressly and unmistakably state on the

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