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LSDefine

Simple English definitions for legal terms

competent

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A quick definition of competent:

The word "competent" is used in different legal situations, such as in court cases and employment. It means having the ability to do something well, like performing a job or making good decisions. In court, evidence and witnesses must be competent, which means they are relevant and can be used to prove something. In employment, being competent means having the right skills and qualifications for a job. When someone is accused of a crime, they must be competent to understand what is happening and to work with their lawyer. In other legal situations, like executing a will or suing a professional for malpractice, being competent means having the necessary knowledge and skills to do the job correctly.

A more thorough explanation:

The term competent refers to the ability to act in a given situation, including the ability to perform a job or occupation, make decisions, or reason. It is used in various legal contexts, such as procedure, evidence, and employment.

In criminal and civil procedure, a court of competent jurisdiction is a court with the power to adjudicate the case before it. Evidence presented in a case must also be competent, meaning it is admissible, material, and relevant to the fact(s) sought to be proved. A competent witness is one who is legally qualified to testify in court.

In a criminal proceeding, a defendant is competent if they possess a sufficient present ability to consult with their lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding. Additionally, they should have a rational and factual understanding of the proceedings against them. A criminal defendant must also be competent to enter a plea.

Competent also appears in the context of employment rights. For example, under the California Education Code, competent refers to the specific skills or qualifications required of an applicant and does not relate to prior on-the-job performance.

In professional malpractice actions, the term "minimally competent" is used to refer to the degree of skill and knowledge that a professional provides. In a state supreme court decision, it was further explained that a minimally competent professional is one whose skills and knowledge are sufficient to meet the licensure or certification requirements for the profession or specialty practiced.

In the execution of wills, it is required that the executor be legally competent.

  • A court of competent jurisdiction has the power to adjudicate the case before it.
  • Competent evidence is admissible, material, and relevant to the fact(s) sought to be proved.
  • A competent witness is legally qualified to testify in court.
  • A minimally competent professional has skills and knowledge that meet the licensure or certification requirements for their profession or specialty.
  • The executor of a will must be legally competent.

These examples illustrate how the term competent is used in various legal contexts, such as procedure, evidence, and employment. They show that competence is required in different situations, such as in the ability to perform a job, make decisions, or reason. They also demonstrate that competence is necessary for legal proceedings, such as in the ability to enter a plea or testify in court.

competence | competent evidence

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THATS SO FUNNY
i cant i would go crazy
JumpySubsequentDolphin
20:50
i need to know who decided to do that.
JumpySubsequentDolphin
20:50
omg im on a plane weeeee
the devil
youre on a plane??? LSD made the mile high club??
20:50
yo splitterus are you in school already
20:50
it says ur c/o 2027
JumpySubsequentDolphin
20:51
@SplitterusClitterus: HAHAH yes
ur user is hilarioussss and no i just graduated this may and am now applying ---also im out of messages so ill take a lil
20:52
roger dat. see u in heck
im back, r u applying this cycle too
JumpySubsequentDolphin
21:32
this child fell asleep on me
JumpySubsequentDolphin
21:32
im so uncomfortable
just push him off the entire seat
JumpySubsequentDolphin
21:34
LMAOOOO
JumpySubsequentDolphin
21:35
no he’s literally like 8 and he fully just put his head on my bicep and slept
JumpySubsequentDolphin
21:35
he has since moved
22:12
@SplitterusClitterus: me yesterday
gulc baby pls text me back... i miss you ...... :(
22:23
i just went into a discord vc and yelled "YALL I JUST GOT INTO J.M. SCHOOL OF LAW"
22:24
people were getting excited :sob:
22:25
then someone was like "what does jm stand for" and i was like .. well
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@JumpySubsequentDolphin: wait this is so cute, also where r u going
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JumpySubsequentDolphin
22:39
@splitty Oregon!
oh yay for what thats so random
JumpySubsequentDolphin
22:45
haha my brother and sister in law live there
so cutie oregon is beatiful
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