Sylvester Hooks v. State of Florida

Supreme Court of Florida ____________ No. SC18-1106 ____________ SYLVESTER HOOKS, Petitioner, vs. STATE OF FLORIDA, Respondent. December 19, 2019 CANADY, C.J. In this case, we consider whether a trial judge must ask certain questions during a Faretta 1 inquiry. We have for review the decision of the First District Court of Appeal in Hooks v. State,

236 So. 3d 1122

(Fla. 1st DCA 2017). There, the district court certified the following question of great public importance: IS A FARETTA INQUIRY INVALID IF THE COURT DOES NOT EXPLICITLY INQUIRE AS TO THE DEFENDANT’S AGE, EXPERIENCE, AND UNDERSTANDING…