Court Opinion

ID: 9662503
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 23:11:27.642609+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:40.215693
License: Public Domain

BASCHAB, Presiding Judge,
concurring in the result.
I agree with the majority’s findings that the appellant did not waive his right to counsel and that the trial court did not advise him of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation. I further note that Rule 6.1(b), Ala. R.Crim. P., provides, in pertinent part:
“A defendant may waive his or her right to counsel in writing or on the record, after the court has ascertained that the defendant knowingly, intelligently, and voluntarily desires to forgo that right. At the time of accepting a defendant’s waiver of the right to counsel, the court shall inform, the defendant that the waiver may be withdrawn and counsel appointed or retained at any stage of the proceedings. ”
(Emphasis added.) Also, the Committee Comments to Rule 6.1 state: “The court is required to inform the defendant that the waiver may be withdrawn since under section (c) the defendant has the burden of requesting counsel if he later decides to withdraw the waiver.” The record does not show that the trial court advised the *582appellant that he had the right to withdraw any waiver of the right to counsel at any time during the proceedings. Therefore, I agree that we must reverse the appellant’s conviction and remand this case for a new trial. See Farid v. State, 720 So.2d 998 (Ala.Crim.App.1998); Hairgrove v. State, 680 So.2d 946 (Ala.Crim.App.1995). On remand, should the appellant, whether indigent or nonindigent, waive his right to be represented by counsel, the trial court should comply with the requirements of Faretta and Rule 6.1(b), Ala. R.Crim. P.