crit·i·cal stage
Legal Definition of critical stage
: a stage in a criminal proceeding at which the accused's rights or defenses may be affected and which triggers the Sixth Amendment right to counsel
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“Critical stage.” Merriam-Webster.com Legal Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/legal/critical%20stage. Accessed 9 Aug. 2022.
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