Opinion ID: 1412808
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Decision to Appear Pro Se.

Text: The petitioner first contends that the trial court did not adequately advise him regarding his decision to represent himself, and that the court further erred in failing to appoint advisory counsel for him. We do not agree. In the absence of exceptional circumstances, a person accused of crime in Colorado has a right guaranteed by the state constitution to represent himself. Colo.Const., Art. II, sec. 16; [4] Martinez v. People, 172 Colo. 82, 470 P.2d 26 (1970). Moreover, the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution also protects a defendant's right to appear pro se. Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975). Both Martinez, supra, and Faretta, supra, emphasized that a trial court's ability to force counsel upon an unwilling defendant is limited. In establishing a guideline, the Faretta, opinion stated: Although a defendant need not himself have the skill and experience of a lawyer in order competently and intelligently to choose self-representation, he should be aware of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation, so that the record will establish that `he knows what he is doing and his choice is made with eyes open.' 422 U.S. at 836, 95 S.Ct. at 2541, 45 L.Ed.2d at 581-82. [5] The standard thus established is markedly similar to that recognized by this court when we ruled in Martinez that a defendant will be permitted to proceed without counsel only if he has an intelligent understanding of the consequences of so doing. 172 Colo. at 85, 470 P.2d at 28. Therefore, the question here presented is whether the trial court adequately fulfilled its duty to ascertain that the petitioner had intelligently decided to represent himself with knowledge of the duties to be imposed upon him and the disadvantages of carrying those burdens himself rather than retaining an attorney. On the facts of this particular case, we hold that the trial court met that duty. The petitioner's desire to appear pro se was first presented to the court in a written notice, in which he stated that he wished to represent himself and would not accept the assistance of the public defender even in an advisory capacity. Thereafter, the trial judge held a hearing at which he asked the petitioner whether he still desired to represent himself and still refused even advisory counsel. When the petitioner responded affirmatively, the public defender was allowed to withdraw. The judge then outlined for the petitioner the procedures to be followed at trial, including the impanelling of the jury, opening statement, closing summation, the examination and cross-examination of witnesses, the form and content of objections, and the procedure for requesting jury instructions. The judge specifically warned that he could not act as an advocate on behalf of the petitioner, and that the petitioner would be essentially held to the same rules every lawyer is held to. As the court of appeals stated: This detailed and extended discussion given by the trial court of the multi-faceted and burdensome obligations facing an attorney in a murder trial operated as a forceful warning to defendant of the `danger and disadvantages' lying in his path if he appeared pro se.  People v. Reliford, supra, 568 P.2d at 498. Therefore, the petitioner was able knowingly and intelligently to make the decision to represent himself. We are not persuaded by the contention that these warnings by the trial court were insufficient because not given until after the public defender had been allowed to withdraw. Although it would probably have been preferable for the trial court to have given this advice prior to approving the public defender's withdrawal, any shortcoming in that respect was cured by the court's repeated questions, in subsequent hearings, whether the petitioner still desired to proceed without counsel. Thus, after having opportunities to become more aware of the complexities of the task before him, the petitioner was repeatedly offered the opportunity to change his mind, yet he declined. In short, here, as in Faretta, supra, the record indicates that a literate, competent, and understanding defendant was exercising his informed free will. Given these facts, we cannot say that the decision to appear pro se was not made knowingly and intelligently. Finally, on this point, the petitioner argues that the trial court on its own motion should have appointed standby, advisory counsel to be available to the petitioner during trial in the event an occasion requiring assistance should arise. In support of this contention the petitioner relies primarily on the American Bar Association Standards Relating to the Function of the Trial Judge, § 6.7: Standby counsel for defendant representing himself. When a defendant has been permitted to proceed without the assistance of counsel, the trial judge should consider the appointment of standby counsel to assist the defendant when called upon and to call the judge's attention to matters favorable to the accused upon which the judge should rule on his own motion. Standby counsel should always be appointed in cases expected to be long or complicated or in which there are multiple defendants. While we agree that the appointment of advisory counsel is generally a fair and commendable practice, we must also emphasize that even the persuasive authority upon which the petitioner relies does not mandate the appointment of standby counsel in cases like this one, but rather leaves the decision to the trial judge's sound discretion. Similarly, most courts have held that the appointment of advisory counsel is an intermediate measure designed to ensure a fair trial when the trial court determines that the defendant, because of mental or physical problems, is incapable of representing himself, or when it becomes apparent during trial that the defendant is simply unable to handle the task he has undertaken. See generally J. Cook, Constitutional Rights of the Accused: Trial Rights § 37, n. 63 (1974). In this case, nothing in the record persuades us that the trial court abused its discretion in failing to require the petitioner to accept advisory counsel. To the contrary, as previously noted, the petitioner appeared at all times to understand the proceedings and the role he had chosen, and he articulately presented a well-organized case. The petitioner relied primarily on a relatively simple alibi defense, and the trial presented no issues so complex that the trial court was required to force him to accept a lawyer's assistance in dealing with them effectively. Moreover, the petitioner's adamant refusal of advisory counsel when offered before trial was adhered to throughout the trial in spite of his continuing opportunity to request professional assistance. One cannot be allowed to insist on his constitutional right to defend himself and then, having been convicted through exercising that right, insist on a second trial because of the court's failure to deny his constitutional right to represent himself. Defendants who demand the right to represent themselves must accept the concomitant responsibility for the results of the representation they provide. Under the circumstances here presented, we perceive no error in the trial court's decision to let the petitioner proceed through the trial exercising his right of self-representation.