4 Hours / 4 CEs

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on AAFP: Case Law Series: Competence to Stand Trial is presented by Bob Stinson, PhD, JD, ABPP in partnership with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP).

This program reviews case law in the area of competence to stand trial and discusses its implications for completing competency to stand trial evaluations. All of the competence to stand trial landmark cases from the American Board of Forensic Psychology's (ABFP's) Suggested Reading List for Written and Oral Examinations are reviewed. Additionally, relevant case law not included on the suggested reading list is reviewed. 

Thus, this program proves helpful to those developing expertise in the area of competence to stand trial, those considering board certification, and those with advanced knowledge in competency to stand trial evaluations who want a refresher on landmark cases and an update on recent rulings.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe the relationship between ethical forensic practice and knowledge of relevant case law.
  • 2 Describe at least 10 of the United States Supreme Court landmark cases in the area of competence to stand trial and state the holdings in each case.
  • 3 Describe at least 3 lower federal court landmark cases in the area of competence to stand trial and state the holdings in each case.
  • 4 Describe how to use the learned case law in the practice of completing competency to stand trial evaluations.

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for psychologists and forensic mental health professionals who conduct, or plan to conduct, competency to stand trial evaluations. It is suitable for those providing assessments and expert testimony in criminal court proceedings, covering foundational to advanced concepts relevant to competency evaluations.

    • Psychologist
    • Forensic Mental Health Professional
    • Psychiatrist
    • Social Worker
    • Expert Witness

  • Experience Level

    This training is applicable for all career stages: entry-level, mid-career, and experienced professionals. This program is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals at varying stages of expertise in forensic evaluation, particularly in competence to stand trial.

    • Beginner: New to forensic mental health or competence to stand trial evaluations; seeking foundational knowledge of relevant case law and its application to ethical forensic practice.
    • Intermediate: Some experience with forensic evaluations; looking to deepen understanding of landmark Supreme Court and federal cases, and integrate case law into evaluation practice.
    • Advanced: Extensive experience in forensic mental health or board certification; seeking a comprehensive review of landmark and recent cases, and updates on evolving legal standards in competency to stand trial evaluations.

  • Practice Setting

    Professionals conducting competency to stand trial evaluations typically work in environments where legal and clinical expertise intersect. These settings require secure, confidential spaces for interviews and assessments, access to legal and clinical records, and the ability to interface with attorneys, courts, and correctional staff. Work may occur in public or private sectors, including hospitals, forensic units, correctional facilities, court clinics, or private practices specializing in forensic mental health. The environment is often structured, with a focus on thorough documentation, adherence to legal standards, and preparation for providing expert testimony in court.

    • State or county forensic psychiatric hospitals
    • Correctional facilities (jails or prisons)
    • Court-affiliated forensic evaluation clinics
    • Private forensic mental health practices
    • Community mental health centers with forensic services
    • Academic medical centers with forensic psychiatry or psychology divisions
    • Government agencies (e.g., departments of mental health or public defender’s offices)
    • Consulting roles for legal teams or courts

Presented By

Bob Stinson, PsyD, JD, ABPP, Board-Certified Forensic Psychologist

Bob Stinson, Psy.D., J.D., LICDC-CS, ABPP, is a board-certified forensic psychologist, an attorney at law, and a licensed independent chemical dependency counselor – clinical supervisor. Dr. Stinson is listed in the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP) and a Diplomate in forensic psychology with the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP). He serves on the faculty of the American Board of Forensic Psychology (ABFP). Dr. Stinson is a Past-President of the Central Ohio Psychological Association, the Ohio Psychological Association (OPA), and AAFP. He is a long-time member and past-Chair of the OPA Ethics Committee. Dr. Stinson has been an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Psychology at Wright State University’s School of Professional Psychology, an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Psychology at The Ohio State University Department of Psychology, a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and an Adjunct Professor of Law at The Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law. Dr. Stinson worked for 15 years on a forensic unit of an inpatient psychiatric hospital, where he also served on the hospital’s Ethics Committee for a number of years, chairing it for his last two years. Dr. Stinson served as the Chief of Behavioral Health Services for the Ohio Department of Youth Services for over 3 years. Currently, he in private practice, owning a solo and group forensic psychology practice. He provides training and supervision to students, interns, and post-doctoral fellows. He lectures across the country in the areas of mental health law and ethics. In his law practice, he represents professionals as it relates to licensing board issues and related matters.

View More Programs from this Presenter
Bob Stinson, PsyD, JD, ABPP

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Review US Supreme Court landmark cases

  • Review federal court landmark cases

We are proud to partner with

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP)

We are proud to partner with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP) for this training. AAFP is a non-profit organization of board-certified forensic psychologists whose mission is to contribute to the development and maintenance of forensic psychology as a specialized field of study, research, and practice. The Academy does this by providing high-quality continuing education workshops, providing a forum for the exchange of scientific information among its members, and conferring awards upon outstanding students and practitioners in the field of forensic psychology.

Learn More About Our Partner

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.