Johnson v. State

Along came Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975), establishing the independent constitutional right to self-representation. Justice Blackmun in his dissent warned us of the procedural difficulties and of the detour signs on the road ahead. He did not, however, tell us there would be so many. The construction of Faretta was fairly smooth and uniform until the second phase of construction began in Texas. Although in the early days construction in Texas was like that in most other jurisdictions, the introduction of a new construction method, a new…