McClinton v. United States

REID, Associate Judge:

The central issue in this appeal is whether the trial court violated appellant Larry J. MeClinton’s Sixth Amendment constitutional right to counsel by permitting him, more than halfway through his trial, to represent himself, with the assistance of standby counsel, without making a proper inquiry on the record as to whether appellant’s waiver of counsel was knowing, intelligent and voluntary. We hold that on the whole record before us, the trial court erred by not conducting an adequate inquiry with regard to Mr. McClinton’s waiver of his right to counsel. However, since…