State v. Dean

{¶ 1} This case involves a defendant’s Sixth Amendment request to represent himself, which was denied by the trial judge because the request was viewed as involuntary. Yet the trial judge’s bias against and threats to defense counsel created the involuntary nature of defendant’s choice. Counsel stated that they could no longer fully represent their client because the judge had made statements against them. This unusual conundrum had caused counsel to be apprehensive, anxious, and preoccupied over the judge’s intentions. However, the judge refused to allow them to withdraw from the case. The…