Opinion ID: 2585200
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Defendant's competency to act as his own attorney

Text: After resolution of the proceedings under section 1369 with a finding that defendant was competent to stand trial, Judge Hugh Rose III heard and granted defendant's motion for self-representation under Faretta v. California (1975) 422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562. [15] Defendant contends he was incompetent to act as his own attorney and that, in granting his motion, Judge Rose effectively denied him his rights under the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, thereby committing reversible error. The requirements for a valid waiver of the right to counsel are (1) a determination that the accused is competent to waive the right, i.e., he or she has the mental capacity to understand the nature and object of the proceedings against him or her; and (2) a finding that the waiver is knowing and voluntary, i.e., the accused understands the significance and consequences of the decision and makes it without coercion. ( Godinez v. Moran (1993) 509 U.S. 389, 400-401 & fn. 12, 113 S.Ct. 2680, 125 L.Ed.2d 321; People v. Robinson (1997) 56 Cal.App.4th 363, 372, 65 Cal. Rptr.2d 406.) Defendant's argument centers on his claim that his waiver of counsel was involuntary in light of the attendant circumstances. First, he urges his waiver was involuntary and not unequivocal because he in fact wished to be represented by counsel, but the trial court told him none would be found (given his refusal to waive his speedy trial right). Second, he argues the trial court inadequately admonished him about the dangers of self-representation. Third, he contends he waived counsel only on the understanding that he would have access to legal materials necessary to aid in his defense, and their unavailability rendered his waiver involuntary. Fourth and finally, he contends Advisory Counsel Robert Winston's unpreparedness at the penalty phase rendered his waiver involuntary. Examination of the record establishes defendant's claim, in all its aspects, lacks merit. First, the record does not substantiate defendant's contention that he in fact wished to be represented by counsel but was coerced into self-representation. Defendant emphatically and repeatedly sought to dismiss his retained counsel and represent himself. As the Attorney General observes, the circumstance that defendant offered to accept advisory counsel in lieu of appointed counsel so that he would not have to waive time undermines his claim of coercion. With regard to defendant's second contention, we agree that as well as determining that a defendant who seeks to waive counsel is competent, the trial court, by making the defendant aware of the risks of self-representation, must satisfy itself that the waiver is knowing and voluntary. ( Godinez v. Moran, supra, 509 U.S. at p. 400, 113 S.Ct. 2680; People v. Bloom (1989) 48 Cal.3d 1194, 1224, 259 Cal.Rptr. 669, 774 P.2d 698.) No particular form of words, however, is required in admonishing a defendant who seeks to forgo the right to counsel and engage in self-representation. `The test of a valid waiver of counsel is not whether specific warnings or advisements were given but whether the record as a whole demonstrates that the defendant understood the disadvantages of self-representation, including the risks and complexities of the particular case.' ( People v. Stansbury (1993) 4 Cal.4th 1017, 1048, 17 Cal.Rptr.2d 174, 846 P.2d 756, revd. on other grounds sub nom. Stansbury v. California (1994) 511 U.S. 318, 114 S.Ct. 1526, 128 L.Ed.2d 293, quoting People v. Bloom, supra, at p. 1225, 259 Cal. Rptr. 669, 774 P.2d 698.) Defendant complains Judge Rose did not sufficiently explore whether defendant truly appreciated the enormity of the charges facing him and the task he faced in representing himself. Specifically, defendant complains Judge Rose made no effort to explain in any detail what rules and procedures he expected defendant to follow; did not mention that defendant was facing the death penalty until after granting the Faretta motion; did not explain that defendant might face a second, penalty, phase of trial; and did not identify the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation except to point out that the prosecutor was a very skilled, highly experienced attorney. Review of the record reveals the following colloquy: The Court: Do you understand that if you are representing yourself that you will receive no special treatment by the Court, that you must follow all the technical rules of evidence and procedure and the substantive law in making objections and motions, and so forth, the same rules will apply to you as will apply if you had a lawyer represent you? Do you understand that? [¶] The Defendant: Yes, I am aware of that, Your Honor. [¶] The Court: Do you understand that the prosecution is being run by a very skilled attorney who has many years of experience in the practice of the law and that you will be not given any further consideration because of the fact that you don't have his skill and training in the representation of criminal defendants? [¶] The Defendant: I am aware of that, Your Honor. [¶] The Court: You are not going to receive any greater library privileges than any other pro per defendant and you will receive no extra time for preparation, you will have no staff of investigators at your beck and call. Do you understand that? It was then noted for the record that a defense investigator had already been retained and defendant would be provided with the investigator's findings. The court continued: You can read and write, I assume? [¶] The Defendant: Yes, sir. [¶] The Court: If there is any kind of disruption or misbehavior at the time of trial your right of self-representation could be vacated at that point. [¶] The Defendant: I wasn't aware of that, but I accept that as true. [¶] The Court: And if you, in spite of your bestor worstefforts in representing yourself, if you were at some point convicted, you can't claim later on that you were inadequately represented by counsel. [¶] The Defendant: I read that in the law, Your Honor. [¶] The Court: Mr. Brazelton [the prosecutor], do you have any further comments? [¶] Mr. Brazelton: No, Your Honor. [¶] The Court: Mr. Kinney, we'll relieve you. Thank you, sir. Three days later, when the matter was next on calendar, with defendant and the prosecutor present before the court, the following colloquy transpired: The Court: Mr. Lawley, Mr. Winston and the Court and my administrator have had some discussion about his representation of you in this matter as at least associate counsel or assistant counsel in this matter. What is your desire in this matter, Mr. Lawley? [¶] The Defendant: I would be happy to have him as assistant counsel, Your Honor. [¶] Mr. Brazelton: Excuse me, Your Honor. IsI believe the proper[¶] The Court: Advisory. [¶] Mr. Brazelton: term is `advisory.' [¶] The Court: Advisory counsel. You don't want him to represent you formally? [¶] The Defendant: No. [¶] The Court: You still want to represent yourself? [¶] The Defendant: Yes, I am. [¶] The Court: You're still aware of all the things I said before and, in addition, you are aware the maximum penalty of death if things go badly for you? [H] The Defendant: Yes, Your Honor. After admonishing defendant that he, not advisory counsel, would control the defense and obtaining defendant's assent, Judge Rose appointed Attorney Robert Winston as advisory counsel. Defendant complains that Judge Rose failed to explain in any detail what rules and procedures he expected him to follow, failed to mention that defendant was facing the death penalty until after he granted the Faretta motion, and failed to tell him there might be a second phase of trial to determine penalty. We disagree. Judge Rose's remarks, taken together, adequately admonished defendant of the risks of self-representation. ( People v. Lopez (1977) 71 Cal.App.3d 568, 572-574, 138 Cal.Rptr. 36 [recommending virtually identical set of admonitions].) The record suggests no confusion on defendant's part regarding the meaning of the admonitions, risks of self-representation, or the complexities of his case, much less that his election to represent himself was other than voluntary. Defendant, moreover, was found by Dr. Trompetter to possess a very sophisticated awareness of the charges and their seriousness and himself acknowledged he had been through about six trials and had an understanding of trials. On this record, his claim of inadequate admonishment must fail. With respect to defendant's contention that the unavailability of necessary legal materials vitiated his waiver of counsel, we reject ( post, 115 Cal.Rptr.2d at p. 651, 38 P.3d at p. 492) his related claim that the trial court erred in failing to inquire into the adequacy of the resources available to him as a self-represented defendant. Because defendant fails to establish the underlying premise of these claims, i.e., the actual inadequacy of available resources, the contention fails to cast doubt on the validity of his waiver. Finally, we reject defendant's contention that Advisory Counsel Winston's alleged unreadiness to assume appointed counsel status at the penalty phase vitiated his waiver of counsel. In granting defendant's motion for self-representation, Judge Rose admonished him he was in the driver's seat, that Winston had no power to address the jury, make objections on defendant's behalf, or speak to the court, and would only be permitted to give defendant advice. Having been advised of and having accepted these restrictions on advisory counsel's role, defendant cannot now complain that his waiver of counsel and concomitant assumption of responsibility for his own defense were involuntary. As the Attorney General suggests, defendant was not entitled both to represent himself and to receive the benefit of professional representation. ( People v. Bradford (1997) 15 Cal.4th 1229, 1368, 65 Cal. Rptr.2d 145, 939 P.2d 259.)