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Indiana v. Edwards & James Earl Reed

By Karl R. Keys, Esq.

The Supreme Court today decided Indiana v. Edwards on the right of self-representation for those who  are competent enough to proceed to trial, wish to proceed pro se,  but are so mentally encumbered as to make a trial, at best a meaningless affair, at worst a travesty.  Exhibit one as to why the Court held today that a state may require counsel for defendants in such a position is Friday nights scheduled execution in South Carolina in James Earl Reed. Local media notes: James Earl Reed, scheduled to die in South Carolina’s electric chair Friday, made two fatal miscalculations: killing his ex-girlfriend’s parents and representing himself at trial, one of his attorneys said. “Had James not represented himself, he would not be on death row today, that’s for certain,” said Columbia attorney Joe Savitz, who represented Reed during his appeals...continue to full post

Full post as published by Capital Defense Weekly on June 19, 2008 (boomark / email).