<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta charset="UTF-8" /><meta http-equiv='content-language' content='en-us'/><title>SDLRC - Codified Law 23A-10A-1 - Definition of mental incompetency. </title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.s2048497Normal { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2048497SENU { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048497CL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2048497Normal-000000 { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2048497DefaultParagraphFont { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048497000001 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048497SCL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2048497SCL-000002 { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } body { text-decoration-skip-ink: none; } </style></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="s2048497Normal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=23A-10A-1"><span class="s2048497SENU">23A-10A-1</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048497SENU">. </span><span class="s2048497CL">Definition of mental incompetency.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048497Normal-000000"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048497DefaultParagraphFont">The term, "mentally incompetent to proceed," as used in this chapter, means the condition of a person who is suffering from a mental disease, developmental disability, as defined in § </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=27B-1-18"><span class="s2048497DefaultParagraphFont">27B-1-18</span></a><span class="s2048497DefaultParagraphFont">, or psychological, physiological, or etiological condition rendering him mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him or to assist properly in his defense.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048497Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048497000001"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2048497Normal"><span class="s2048497SCL">Source:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2048497SCL-000002"> SL 1978, ch 175, § 2; SDCL Supp, § 23-38-1.1; SL 1985, ch 192, § 47; SL 1991, ch 199, § 1.</span></p></div></body></html>