U. S. Supreme Court: Constitution Does NOT Prevent A State From Forcing Legal Representation On Those "Who Suffer From Severe Mental Illness".

The case is Indiana Vs. Edwards, 07-208 (2008).

The Court held as follows:

After Indiana charged respondent Edwards with attempted murder and other crimes for a shooting during his attempt to steal a pair of shoes, his mental condition became the subject of three competency proceedings and two self-representation requests, mostly before the same trial judge. Referring to the lengthy record of psychiatric reports, the trial court noted that Edwards suffered from schizophrenia and concluded that, although it appeared he was competent to stand trial, he was not competent to defend himself at trial. The court therefore denied Edwards’ self-representation request. He was represented by appointed counsel at trial and convicted on two counts.

Indiana’s intermediate appellate court ordered a new trial, agreeing with Edwards that the trial court’s refusal to permit him to represent himself deprived him of his constitutional right of self-representation under the Sixth Amendment and Faretta v. California, 422 U. S. 806.

Although finding that the record provided substantial support for the trial court’s ruling, the Indiana Supreme Court nonetheless affirmed the intermediate appellate court on the ground that Faretta and Godinez v. Moran, 509 U. S. 389, required the State to allow Edwards to represent himself.

Held: The Constitution does not forbid States from insisting upon representation
by counsel for those competent enough to stand trial but who suffer from severe mental illness to the point where they are not competent to conduct trial proceedings by themselves.