Blankenship v. State

OPINION ON APPELLANT’S PETITION FOR DISCRETIONARY REVIEW

MILLER, Judge.

“He who represents himself has a fool for a client.”

While there may be resounding truth to the old proverb, today we must determine if the trial judge’s jealous protection of the appellant’s Sixth Amendment right to counsel demonstrated by his refusal to allow pro se representation was in error. We find that it was and reverse appellant’s conviction.

Appellant was convicted by a jury of aggravated robbery and his punishment was assessed at 35 years confinement. The El Paso Court of Appeals affirmed the conviction in…