Opinion ID: 3052174
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: analysis

Text: First, Marks argues that the district court applied an incorrect standard for waiver of the right to counsel because it concluded, in its order granting Marks’ motion to proceed pro se, UNITED STATES v. MARKS 6889 that Marks had “knowingly, intelligently and unequivocally asserted his right to self-representation.” Marks contends that whether he asserted his right to self-representation is not the same question as whether he waived his right to counsel. However, at the Faretta hearing, the district court made the specific oral finding that Marks had “knowingly waived his right to counsel.” Accordingly, we are satisfied that the court applied the correct standard. Second, Marks argues that any waiver of the right to counsel was not “voluntary and intelligent” in light of the “substantial doubts” as to his competence to stand trial. Initially, we do not agree that there were “substantial doubts” as to Marks’ competence. We have already concluded that there was no substantial evidence of incompetence, and we find no substantial doubts as to Marks’ competence either. Moreover, we conclude that the record affirmatively demonstrates that Marks’ waiver of the right to counsel was voluntary, knowing, and intelligent. At arraignment, the district court advised Marks of the charges and possible penalties against him. At the Faretta hearing, following several motions by Marks to proceed pro se, the court explained to Marks the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation. In addition, Marks’ second appointed counsel testified at the hearing on his motion to withdraw that he had spoken to Marks about the elements and the nature of the charges, about the possible penalties, and about the disadvantages of selfrepresentation. Furthermore, at the Faretta hearing, the district court cautioned Marks that, in its opinion, it was unwise of Marks to represent himself and that he would be better off being represented by a trained attorney. The court also informed Marks that he would be required to abide by the rules of evidence and that the court would not advise him how to try his case. Marks repeatedly indicated that he understood what the court 6890 UNITED STATES v. MARKS was telling him. When the court finally asked Marks whether he still wished to represent himself and give up his right to be represented by counsel, Marks responded that he could represent himself better than any attorney appointed by the court and that his request to proceed pro se was “entirely voluntary.” [22] We conclude that Marks’ waiver of his right to counsel was voluntary, knowing, and intelligent. Our conclusion is bolstered by the fact that Marks previously rejected two courtappointed attorneys and that the second attorney expressed his belief that Marks was a “fairly well-educated man” who “want[ed] to be his own attorney” and who had already acted as such by filing numerous pleadings on his own. While at earlier hearings Marks had stated that he wanted “effective assistance of counsel” and complained that both appointed attorneys were “incompetent,” he eventually made it clear that he would rather proceed pro se than be represented by any attorney appointed by the court. Thus, while we suspect that Marks initially “engaged in game playing, typical of a tax evader, in his responses to the court as to whether he waived his right to counsel,” Marks “finally answered unequivocally that he did not want a lawyer.” United States v. Hardy, 941 F.2d 893, 896 (9th Cir. 1991). Accordingly, the district court did not err in allowing Marks to proceed pro se.