Opinion ID: 2270912
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Colloquy Regarding Mr. Davis' Right to Testify

Text: Before the parties rested in the guilt phase of Mr. Davis' trial, the court, out of the presence of the jury, examined Mr. Davis concerning his right to testify. The court explained that Mr. Davis had the right to testify but it understood that Mr. Davis was opting not to do so. Mr. Davis responded that he had never agreed not to testify  he wanted to explain the last two months that [he] was out there. The court advised Mr. Davis that if he testified he would have to comply with the procedural rules of the court and his counsel would conduct the examination. Mr. Davis would not be allowed to just sit there and tell the jury whatever he want[ed]. Mr. Davis inquired whether he could have counsel ask questions of Mr. Davis' choosing. The court said no, and explained that selecting the questions to ask fell under an attorney-client ... strategy, what the strategy of the case is. The court ordered a recess, allowing Mr. Davis time to discuss the matter with counsel. On returning from recess, the court reiterated to Mr. Davis that it wouldn't be a situation ... where you will get on the stand and [Mr. Davis' counsel] would say, tell the jury what you want to tell them. When asked again whether he wanted to testify, Mr. Davis said, I could not testify to anything I would want to testify to because the counsel would not ask the questions I wanted to ask. Thereafter, Mr. Davis stated that he did not want to testify in the guilt phase. On August 5, 2008, near the end of the presentation of Mr. Davis' evidence in the penalty phase of his trial, the court again, out of the presence of the jury, examined Mr. Davis about his right to testify. Mr. Davis remarked that you said I have the right to testify, but if I can't get my lawyer to ask me questions, then I have no right to testify. The court clarified, today, if you're going to testify, it's going to be at the direction of your attorneys as to the questions that they deem are relevant, the questions that they know under the law the jury can hear, and things of that nature. Mr. Davis said that he understood, and the court again provided him with a recess to confer with counsel. When Mr. Davis returned from the recess, he said that he wanted to testify and asked the court, Can I have them  ask them to ask questions of me? The court agreed that Mr. Davis was free to give his counsel a list of questions he wanted to be asked but noted that they might ask ... [different] questions, though, because they're making the decision of whether your questions are admissible or not admissible. The court gave Mr. Davis 15 minutes to write his questions. Afterward, Mr. Davis testified. Mr. Davis does not identify on appeal any questions he wanted asked that counsel did not ask of him.