ARS 13-4503: Request for competency examination
The complete text of A.R.S. § 13-4503 on request for competency examination, and how this section is used in Arizona criminal cases. It defines terms and procedure rather than creating an offense.
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Full Text of A.R.S. § 13-4503
A.R.S. § 13-4503 is the Arizona statute on request for competency examination. It sets out procedure and rules rather than defining an offense, so no offense class or sentence attaches to this section on its own.
A. At any time after the prosecutor charges a criminal offense by complaint, information or indictment, any party or the court on its own motion may request in writing that the defendant be examined to determine the defendant’s competency to stand trial, to enter a plea or to assist the defendant’s attorney. The motion shall state the facts on which the mental examination is sought.
B. The court may request that a mental health expert assist the court in determining if reasonable grounds exist for examining a defendant.
C. Except as provided in subsection D of this section, after any court determines that reasonable grounds exist for further competency proceedings, the superior court shall have exclusive jurisdiction over all competency hearings.
D. The presiding judge of the superior court in each county, with the agreement of the justice of the peace or municipal court judge, may authorize a justice court or municipal court to exercise jurisdiction over a competency hearing in a misdemeanor case that arises out of the justice court or municipal court.
E. A justice of the peace or municipal court judge, with the approval of the presiding judge of the superior court and the justice or judge of the receiving court, may refer a competency hearing to another justice court or municipal court that is located in the county.
Source: Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-4503, Arizona Legislative Council revision of 09/19/25. Read the official text on azleg.gov. Statutes change; verify the current version before relying on it.
How § 13-4503 Affects an Arizona Case
§ 13-4503 usually matters because of how it interacts with the charge someone is actually facing. We read it alongside the charging statute, because a definition or a procedural rule frequently decides what the State must prove, what a judge may impose, or what relief is available afterward.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is A.R.S. § 13-4503?
A.R.S. § 13-4503 is the Arizona statute on request for competency examination. It sets out rules that apply across Arizona criminal cases rather than defining a single offense.
Where can I read the official text of § 13-4503?
The Arizona Legislature publishes it at azleg.gov, in the revision dated 09/19/25. The complete text is reproduced on this page, and every Arizona criminal statute is searchable on our Arizona Criminal Code index.
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