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Name: People v. Smith
Case #: C036886
Court: CA Court of Appeal
District 3 DCA
Opinion Date: 12/12/2001
Subsequent History: Reh. granted 1/2/02. Appeal dismissed 2/1/02.
Summary

The trial court correctly relied on the representation of appellant’s public defender that it was in appellant’s best interest to waive a jury trial on the issue of appellant’s competence to stand trial. In an ordinary case, such as this, the trial court should not appoint special counsel to represent a defendant’s “wishes” concerning whether to have a jury trial on the issue of competence.