Opinion ID: 779418
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Defendant's Right to Self-Representation

Text: 34 Defendant's principal argument on appeal concerns his decision to represent himself at trial. He argues that his waiver of counsel was neither knowing nor intelligent, and therefore the district court should not have let him proceed pro se. We review the district court's decision for abuse of discretion. See United States v. Woodard, 291 F.3d 95, 109 (1st Cir.2002); United States v. Proctor, 166 F.3d 396, 401 (1st Cir.1999). 35 It is well settled that a criminal defendant has a Sixth Amendment right to reject appointment of counsel and to conduct his own defense, provided that he makes his choice knowingly and intelligently. Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 835, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975) (quoting Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458, 464-65, 58 S.Ct. 1019, 82 L.Ed. 1461 (1938)); see also Proctor, 166 F.3d at 401. Given the potential adverse consequences associated with self-representation, a trial judge must be sure the accused knows what he is doing and his choice is made with eyes open. Faretta, 422 U.S. at 835, 95 S.Ct. 2525 (quoting Adams v. United States ex rel. McCann, 317 U.S. 269, 279, 63 S.Ct. 236, 87 L.Ed. 268 (1942)). This court has declined to prescribe a specific warning for the trial court or a formulaic waiver for the criminal defendant. Instead, we have adopted a more contextual inquiry for determining the legitimacy of a defendant's waiver of counsel: 36 An intelligent waiver does not require that the accused have the skill or knowledge of a lawyer. What is required, we think, is a sense of the magnitude of the undertaking and the disadvantages of self-representation: an awareness that there are technical rules governing the conduct of a trial, and that presenting a defense is not a simple matter of telling one's story. In addition, the accused should have a general appreciation of the seriousness of the charge and the penalties he may be exposed to before deciding to take a chance on his own skill. 37 Maynard v. Meachum, 545 F.2d 273, 279 (1st Cir.1976) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). 38 In United States v. Campbell, 874 F.2d 838, 845 (1st Cir.1989), we enumerated other factors that a court could consider in determining whether there was an intelligent waiver of counsel: The district court may properly consider, in addition to [the defendant's] background, experience and conduct, such factors as his involvement in previous criminal trials, his representation by counsel before trial, and the continued presence of advisory counsel at trial. (Citations omitted.) 39 Contrary to the defendant's assertion, the record here clearly demonstrates that he knowingly and intelligently waived his right to counsel. Despite receiving repeated warnings about the hazards of self-representation from his appointed defense counsel, Manjarrez insisted that his counsel withdraw so that he could present his own defense. After his appointed counsel conveyed his request to the court, the trial judge exhaustively questioned the defendant to ensure that he understood not only the gravity of the charges facing him and their potential penalties upon conviction, but also his obligation to comply with the rules of the court when presenting his case. The judge also explicitly warned the defendant that she thought he was making a big mistake that would have dire consequences, and repeatedly invited him to reconsider his decision. 40 On appeal, the defendant contends that the trial judge had a duty to make a more searching inquiry regarding the validity of his waiver of counsel upon learning that he intended to advance a frivolous jurisdictional theory with no basis in statutory or case law. Neither the law nor the record supports this argument. The Supreme Court has plainly held that [t]he pro se defendant must be allowed to control the content and organization of his own defense. McKaskle v. Wiggins, 465 U.S. 168, 174, 104 S.Ct. 944, 79 L.Ed.2d 122 (1984). The right to self-representation is not contingent on a defendant's legal knowledge or skill. See Faretta, 422 U.S. at 835, 95 S.Ct. 2525. A trial judge cannot reject a defendant's right to proceed pro se simply because he chooses a poor legal strategy. Although a pro se defendant may conduct his own defense ultimately to his own detriment, his choice must be honored out of that respect for the individual which is the lifeblood of the law. Id. at 834, 95 S.Ct. 2525. The record in this case reveals that Manjarrez understood that the judge would hold him to the same standards and obligations as any attorney appearing before the court, and she would strike from the record any improper statements and arguments made in his defense. In fact, the judge made painstaking efforts to ensure that the defendant understood that he virtually [would not] have a voice if he failed to adhere to the relevant rules of trial procedure. While Manjarrez's defense theory may demonstrate that he lacked legal acumen, it does not indicate that he lacked the capacity to choose self-representation knowingly and intelligently. 41 Equally without merit is the defendant's argument on appeal that the trial judge should have terminated his right to proceed pro se when it became apparent that he was representing himself poorly. Once a defendant knowingly and intelligently foregoes his right to counsel, he cannot thereafter complain that the quality of his own defense amounted to a denial of `effective assistance of counsel'. Faretta, 422 U.S. at 834 n. 46, 95 S.Ct. 2525; see also United States v. Benefield, 942 F.2d 60, 66 (1st Cir.1991) (The fact that [the pro se defendant] was not a very effective advocate does not mean he was improperly permitted to proceed without the aid of counsel.). In the instant case, both the court and his standby counsel repeatedly reminded the defendant of his right to raise objections and to cross-examine witnesses. With the exception of allowing his standby counsel to argue the Rule 29 motion on the conspiracy charge, the defendant obstinately chose to ignore this advice and confined his defense to his jurisdictional theory. Although Manjarrez's choice may not have been wise, it was nevertheless knowing, voluntary, and intelligent. Benefield, 942 F.2d at 66.