Court Opinion

ID: 9505660
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-06 20:14:11.359989+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:04:40.849372
License: Public Domain

SELBY, J.,
concurring with separate opinion.
I join in the majority opinion but write separately to make a particular observation about pro se litigation. A capital defendant’s request to proceed pro se places the trial judge in a most untenable position. The judge must effectuate the defendant’s right to self-representation as well as the defendant’s right to a fair and meaningful trial. Both of these rights are of constitutional dimension and, indeed, the United States Supreme Court has declared that the right of self-representation is fundamental, holding that, “Like others, prisoners have the constitutional right to petition the Government for redress of their grievances, which includes a reasonable right of access to the courts.” Hudson v. Palmer; 468 U.S. 517, 523, 104 S.Ct. 3194, 3198, 82 L.Ed.2d 393 (1984) (citation omitted). I believe that equal access to justice would be better served if our entire judicial system were better equipped to handle pro se litigation.