Opinion ID: 1344103
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Right To Self-Representation And The Right To Counsel

Text: 1. [T]he Sixth Amendment right does not afford the defendant the hybrid right to simultaneously represent himself and be represented by counsel. [Cit.] Cargill v. State, 255 Ga. 616, 622 (340 SE2d 891) (1986). As a result of changes in the Georgia Constitution, a criminal defendant in Georgia `no longer has the right to represent himself and also be represented by an attorney, i.e., the right to act as co-counsel.' [Cit.] Cargill, supra, 255 Ga. at 623. Nonetheless, although a defendant may not insist on acting as co-counsel, the trial court may, as here, allow him to do so. In such a case, as when the defendant elects to proceed pro se, the record should reflect that his choice to proceed as co-counsel was made after the defendant was made aware of his right to counsel and the dangers of proceeding without counsel. Clarke v. Zant, 247 Ga. 194, 197 (257 SE2d 49) (1981). See also Jones v. Wharton, 253 Ga. 82 (316 SE2d 749) (1984). Here, although Hance was given to understand that if he elected to proceed as co-counsel he could not thereafter complain about the quality of his own performance as counsel, it was stated to him by his attorney with the apparent agreement of the trial judge that his election to act as co-counsel would not waive his right to raise later an ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim as to his attorney's performance. Moreover, it appears that Hance's claim of ineffectiveness relates primarily to the performance of his attorney before Hance sought to act as co-counsel. Compare United States v. Fessel, 531 F2d 1275 (5th Cir. 1976) (Fessel claimed that the ineffective assistance of counsel before he asserted his right of self-representation prevented the preparation and presentation of an adequate defense. Hance v. Zant, supra, 696 F2d at 950. On this ground, Fessel's conviction was reversed.) Thus, we conclude that Hance is entitled to a review of the effectiveness of his trial attorney.