Opinion ID: 2330598
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Self-Representation Request Withdrawn

Text: The State argues that Christopher's assertion of his Sixth Amendment right to self-representation was waived by his subsequent actions. [11] As this Court explained in Walker, [w]aiver may be established by a defendant's failure to reassert the request, if it would not be futile to do so. [12] While mere acquiescence to a trial judge's denial of a proper invocation of the right to self-representation is insufficient to constitute a waiver, a subsequent assertion, on the record, that the defendant has reconciled his differences with defense counsel constitutes a waiver. [13] For example, in Brown v. Wainwright, [14] the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals found that defense counsel's representation that he and the defendant had worked out their differences supported a finding of waiver. [15] The record reflects that, at the conclusion of the State's case in chief, the following colloquy occurred between the trial judge, defense counsel and Christopher: Defense Counsel: Also, I think we should put on the record I know how we started off with Mr. Christopher here where he was trying to fire me. But I think we could put on the record here right now that he's satisfied with my representation up to this point, and we've passed that, just for the record purposes. The Court: I understand why you do that. It's wise to bring it out at an early stage of the case. . . . Defendant: I just want to say I'm satisfied. I was just scared. I mean, we're talking about my life here, and I was scared. Defense Counsel: So I think you're satisfied with my representation. Defendant: Absolutely, absolutely. Thus, notwithstanding the problems with the colloquy and legal analysis in the initial ruling on the issue of pro se representation, the record reflects that Christopher revoked and waived his request to represent himself, when he subsequently told the trial judge that he was absolutely satisfied with defense counsel's representation. [16]