Faretta v. California
United States Supreme Court
422 U.S. 806 (1975)
Relevant factsFree
Faretta (defendant), a high-school-educated man charged with grand theft, asked to represent himself at trial. The trial judge initially allowed it after warning him of the risks, but later reversed course, finding Faretta lacked sufficient legal knowledge and ruling that he had not knowingly and intelligently waived his right to counsel. The court then appointed a public defender over Faretta's objection, and the jury convicted him.
IssueFree
Whether a criminal defendant has a constitutional right, under the Sixth Amendment, to reject appointed counsel and represent himself at trial.