Robyn
Robyn v. Butler
Opinion
Lead Opinion
MEMORANDUM **
California state prisoner Robert John Robyn appeals pro se the district court’s denial of his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 habeas corpus petition challenging his conviction and sentence. Robyn contends that he was denied his Sixth Amendment right to counsel when the trial court refused to appoint counsel after a jury had been empaneled and the prosecution put on its first witness. We have jurisdiction pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and we affirm the district court’s denial of the habeas petition.
Although a criminal defendant has both the right to counsel and the right to self representation, a request for either form of representation must be timely made. See e.g., United States v. Smith, 780 F.2d 810, 811 (9th Cir.1986) (stating that a de *448 mand for self-representation is timely if made before meaningful trial proceedings have begun). The California appellate court’s determination that Robyn’s Sixth Amendment rights were not violated by the trial court’s denial of Robyn’s request to revoke his waiver of counsel and have counsel appointed after the trial was underway was neither contrary to, nor an unreasonable application of federal law. See 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (d)(1).