Opinion ID: 2630721
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: request to proceed pro se

Text: ś 48 A request to proceed pro se must be timely and unequivocal. Stenson, 142 Wash.2d at 737, 16 P.3d 1. Cross's formal motion to proceed pro se was made on April 24, 2001, four months into the trial, three days after the State had rested its case and after the defense had itself presented several witnesses. CP at 2149-50. Cross refused to assure the judge that he would refrain from outbursts in court. CP at 2152. The court found that granting the motion would cause a considerable delay and that delay was Cross's purpose. CP at 2153(citing State v. Fritz, 21 Wash.App. 354, 585 P.2d 173 (1978)). Either finding was an adequate basis for denying a motion to proceed pro se. Fritz, 21 Wash.App. at 363-65, 585 P.2d 173. Cross has not shown the trial court abused her discretion. ś 49 Again, strategy decisions are for the attorney. In this case, the very real conflict between counsel and client was about strategy. Until and unless the disagreement about strategy actually compromises the attorney's ability to provide adequate representation, strategy differences do not violate any constitutional rights held by defendants. We affirm.