Ronald Maynard v. Larry Meachum

COFFIN, Chief Judge.

Petitioner, Ronald Maynard, sought habeas corpus relief, attacking his state court conviction on the ground that his decision to waive counsel was not knowingly and intelligently made. The district court issued the writ, and the government appeals.

The record of the state court proceeding reveals that when the case was called for trial on February 18,1971, Maynard’s court-appointed counsel requested permission to withdraw from the case. In response to questioning by the judge, the attorney described the services he had performed during the eight months he represented…