Legal Opinion
Imani v. Pollard
Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Decided June 22, 2016No. 14-3407PublishedCited by 15 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
HAMILTON, Circuit Judge.
The Sixth Amendment guarantees a mentally competent defendant the right to represent himself in a criminal trial, no matter how foolish that choice may seem. Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975). This constitutional right “exists to affirm the dignity and autonomy of the accused and to allow the presentation of what may, at least occasionally, be the accused’s best possible defense.” McKaskle v. Wiggins, 465 U.S. 168, 176-77, 104 S.Ct. 944, 79 L.Ed.2d 122 (1984). A judge may not deny a competent defendant’s timely invocation of his…
2Cases cited12 opinions
- Harrington v. RichterSupreme Court of the United States · 2011
- Faretta v. CaliforniaSupreme Court of the United States · 1975
- Illinois v. AllenSupreme Court of the United States · 1970
- McKaskle v. WigginsSupreme Court of the United States · 1984
- Godinez v. MoranSupreme Court of the United States · 1993
7 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by15 opinions
- Rodney Washington v. Gary BoughtonCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 2018
- Jordan v. HeppCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 2016
- United States v. Joseph BanksCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 2016
- Robert L. Tatum v. Brian FosterCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 2017
- James Freeman v. Guy PierceCourt of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit · 2017
10 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.