Willie James Brown v. Louie L. Wainwright, Etc.

RONEY, Circuit Judge:

Defendant Willie James Brown, convicted in state court for murder, seeks federal habeas corpus relief on the ground he was denied the right to represent himself at trial. The district court denied relief, finding that although the defendant had notified the court prior to trial he preferred to represent himself, he later waived his right by permitting appointed counsel to conduct the defense and by not reasserting a desire to represent himself until late in the trial. A panel of this Court reversed. 644 F.2d 337 (5th Cir. 1980). The panel decision was vacated upon the…