Can a criminal defendant waive his right to counsel and represent himself at trial?
California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Carter, D058172, D058660 (Cal. App. 2012):
"A criminal defendant may waive the right to counsel and represent himself at trial. [Citation.] The right of self-representation is absolute, but only if a request therefor is knowingly and voluntarily made and is asserted a reasonable time before trial begins. [Citation.] Otherwise, requests for self-representation are addressed to the trial court's sound discretion." (People v. Bradford (2010) 187 Cal.App.4th 1345, 1353.)
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