Opinion ID: 1406347
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Motion to Relieve Counsel and Proceed Pro Se

Text: The Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments of our Constitution guarantee that a person brought to trial in any state or federal court must be afforded the right to the assistance of counsel before he can be validly convicted and punished by imprisonment. Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 807, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 2527, 45 L.Ed.2d 562, 566 (1975). This right may be waived, and the waiver must be knowing, voluntary, and intelligent. Id. at 835, 95 S.Ct. at 2541, 45 L.E.2d at 581; State v. Fuller, 337 S.C. 236, 241, 523 S.E.2d 168, 170 (1999). [4] A waiver is ordinarily an intentional relinquishment or abandonment of a known right or privilege. The determination of whether there has been an intelligent waiver of right to counsel must depend, in each case, upon the particular facts and circumstances surrounding that case, including the background, experience, and conduct of the accused. Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458, 464, 58 S.Ct. 1019, 1023, 82 L.Ed. 1461, 1466 (1938). A defendant makes an intelligent waiver when he knows what he is doing and his choice is made with eyes open. Adams v. United States ex rel. McCann, 317 U.S. 269, 279, 63 S.Ct. 236, 242, 87 L.Ed. 268, 275 (1942). We questioned Petitioner at length about his decision to waive his right to counsel. Petitioner stated he was not satisfied with counsel's representation of him because, according to Petitioner, she presumed he was guilty and was against the evidence that proves his innocence. Petitioner appeared upset that his counsel would not fight for his innocence in accordance with his wishes. We also questioned Petitioner whether he fully understood the nature of PCR proceedings and the appellate process following a denial of a PCR application. Petitioner asked the Court to allow him to waive his right to appeal and he stated he did not want us to review the questions raised in his PCR application. Yet, he also asked us to review the merits of his case, and he raised substantive claims regarding his trial which he desired the Court to address. Although Petitioner is competent to waive this right, we find troubling the fact that Petitioner clearly does not understand the procedural posture of his case. For this reason, we deny Petitioner's motion to relieve counsel at this stage of the proceeding.