Opinion ID: 168303
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: OCCA Rationale—Objectively Unreasonable?

Text: 78 Since Braun is not contrary to applicable Supreme Court precedent, we next consider whether the OCCA's application of that precedent was objectively unreasonable under the authority discussed above. We conclude that it was not. 79 We have carefully reviewed the record of the trial court's independent waiver hearing held to probe the reasons for Maynard's desire to proceed pro se. At that hearing, the trial court took pains to ensure that Maynard knew what he was charged with and what kind of penalty he faced. It also probed Maynard's understanding of the procedural aspects of the trial. Maynard's appointed counsel attended the hearing and assisted Maynard. Maynard testified about his desire to proceed pro se and was questioned by his counsel and the prosecutor. Maynard asserted a plan to raise a variety of defenses including insanity, involuntary intoxication, and entrapment. Maynard's counsel did not ask for additional mental testing at that time and agreed to withdraw as counsel at the conclusion of the hearing. 80 Needless to say, Maynard displayed an unrealistic and even foolish view of his case and possible defenses. He was more focused on the deficiencies of the court appointed counsel than on the merits of his defense. Most observers would agree the decision to proceed pro se is inherently irrational, but it is well established that a defendant's technical legal knowledge is not relevant to an assessment of his knowing exercise of the right to defend himself. Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 836, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975); see also United States v. Baker, 84 F.3d 1263, 1264 (10th Cir.1996) (The key question is whether the defendant is competent to waive his or her right to counsel, not whether the defendant possesses legal knowledge or is otherwise competent to represent him or herself.). 81 This case is especially difficult because of Maynard's history of mental illness. We recognize he was institutionalized at various points in these proceedings and was hampered by a variety of mental conditions whose force cannot be precisely gauged from the cold record. Maynard suffered through a variety of mental illnesses prior to trial, and possibly afterwards. He had represented himself in legal proceeding before, and may have had a romanticized view of his ability to present a defense. Perhaps he believed his impairment defense would be helped by self-representation. In any event, we have no per se rule prohibiting defendants, even with troubling mental health histories, from waiving counsel. 7 82 In disagreeing solely with whether Maynard's waiver was knowing and voluntary, the dissent points to the waiver hearing transcript to illustrate Maynard's confusion over certain aspects of the trial process. But Maynard need not understand all of the implications of waiver at the beginning of the waiver hearing, he only needs to understand them when the waiver is granted. Part of the reason for the more probing inquiry required when a defendant seeks to proceed pro se is to determine aspects of the waiver that the defendant might not understand initially so that the implications of representing one's self at trial can be clarified. See United States v. Turner, 287 F.3d 980, 984 (10th Cir.2002) (. . . knowing and intelligent means only that [the defendant] was reasonably informed by the court of the hazards of self-representation and had sufficient understanding of those hazards.). The contradictions that arise in the cited transcript are the product of the judge determining where Maynard might be confused about the implications of proceeding pro se and then working to mitigate Maynard's confusion about those issues. The cited excerpts demonstrate the judge walking Maynard through his misconceptions of the trial process and identifying the aspects of waiver that might conflict with Maynard's approach to trial. Maynard does not need to understand the consequences of waiving counsel when he makes the initial decision to waive, but the court must be satisfied the defendant understands the consequences when the waiver is granted. 83 The dissent points to Maynard's belief that his attorney is conspiring against him, that he must testify, that he must retain his attorney to question him, that his attorney will help him prepare jury instructions after being unconditionally discharged, and that the court or the prosecutor will assist him as evidence of Maynard's confusion. The first point was made to the jury in the competency hearing, which found him competent to stand trial. And while we agree with the dissent that Maynard was initially confused about the role of advisory trial counsel, it was the trial court's job to sufficiently clear up those misconceptions so that Maynard could decide if he still wanted to proceed pro se. That is why the court went to such efforts to point out inconsistencies in Maynard's testimony. The transcript as a whole shows that the court sought to clarify the mistakes in Maynard's beliefs and then ensure Maynard understood those clarifications of the consequences of proceeding pro se before ultimately granting the waiver. 84 Our standard of review is objective unreasonableness. If this case had been before us in the first instance, we might well have reached a different conclusion. But we cannot say that Maynard's waiver of counsel and the OCCA's affirmance of it are inconsistent with the standards established by the Supreme Court. Accordingly, the district court did not err in denying the habeas petition on this ground.