William Houston v. D. Sisto

MEMORANDUM

Habeas petitioner William Houston challenges his California state conviction of two counts of robbery. He contends that he was denied his Sixth Amendment right to self-representation. The state court of appeal’s finding that his request was untimely and its affirmance of the trial court’s denial of the request for self-representation did not violate any clearly established Supreme Court precedent. 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (d)(1). The Supreme Court in Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806 , 95 S.Ct. 2525 , 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975), confirmed that the right to represent oneself is embedded in the Sixth Amendment, id. at 819 , 95 S.Ct. 2525 , but the request for self-representation must be unequivocal and timely, id. at 835-36 , 95 S.Ct. 2525 . A request for self-representation must not be a tactic to secure delay. Armant v. Marquez, 772 F.2d 552, 555 (9th Cir.1985).

The record supports the state court’s finding that petitioner’s request was intended to cause delay. Petitioner had withdrawn his earlier request for self-representation, and renewed it only on the day set for trial. See Fritz v. Spalding, 682 F.2d 782, 784-85 (9th Cir.1982) (stating that in deciding whether a Faretta…