Opinion ID: 75896
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Contact with lawyers prior to the sentencing trial

Text: 33 In all four of his previous capital murder trials and sentencing hearings, Nelson was fully represented by counsel. Thus, Nelson had great exposure to lawyers prior to this sentencing hearing. Nelson stated as much at his 1987 Faretta hearing. At that hearing, the court questioned Nelson about how he formed his opinion about lawyers, to which he testified, From my experience with them in the last few years. I went through several lawyers myself. 34 Nelson's repeated exposure to lawyers while they represented and advised him in virtually identical capital sentencing proceedings is in stark contrast to the Fitzpatrick defendant's exposure to lawyers, yet the Court in Fitzpatrick still found that this factor weighed in favor of a finding that the defendant knowingly and intelligently chose self-representation. 800 F.2d at 1066. The defendant in Fitzpatrick never even obtained counsel prior to the trial in which he represented himself, but the Court held that his contact with several different attorneys in attempting to retain counsel was significant and weighed in favor of finding a knowing waiver of his right to counsel. Id. 35 In this case, Nelson was represented throughout both his 1978 and 1982 trials, his direct appeals, and his first federal habeas proceedings. He dismissed his counsel prior to the re-sentencing hearing at issue here. It is clear that he had extensive contact with several different lawyers. In addition, the court appointed standby lawyers for Nelson, so he could have had legal representation from a lawyer in the instant proceeding, if he had so desired. Consequently, this factor strongly supports a finding that the state courts were reasonable in concluding that Nelson's waiver of counsel was knowing, voluntary, and intelligent. 36