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Judge grants motion for Dylann Roof to represent himself

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nota bene

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CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Dylann Roof, the man accused of killing nine African Americans in a Charleston church, has been granted his motion to represent himself.

Roof's took the stand Monday in an effort to dismiss his counsel and represent himself. His request came against his lawyer's advice, and U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel said he would reluctantly accept the 22-year-old's "unwise" decision. Judge grants motion for Dylann Roof to represent himself | WCNC.com

As Abraham Lincoln said, "He who represents himself has a fool for a client."
 
nota bene said:
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Dylann Roof, the man accused of killing nine African Americans in a Charleston church, has been granted his motion to represent himself.

Roof's took the stand Monday in an effort to dismiss his counsel and represent himself. His request came against his lawyer's advice, and U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel said he would reluctantly accept the 22-year-old's "unwise" decision. Judge grants motion for Dylann Roof to represent himself | WCNC.com

As Abraham Lincoln said, "He who represents himself has a fool for a client."
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As the saying goes: he has a fool for a client, Abe was right. They usually change heart somewhere along the line.
 
nota bene said:
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Dylann Roof, the man accused of killing nine African Americans in a Charleston church, has been granted his motion to represent himself.

Roof's took the stand Monday in an effort to dismiss his counsel and represent himself. His request came against his lawyer's advice, and U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel said he would reluctantly accept the 22-year-old's "unwise" decision. Judge grants motion for Dylann Roof to represent himself | WCNC.com

As Abraham Lincoln said, "He who represents himself has a fool for a client."
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I hope he rots in prison for what he did.
 
I also oppose the death penalty. The judge's granting the motion is an example of the difference between being legally insane and bat-guano crazy.
 
TheGoverness said:
Meh, I don't agree with the death penalty. But I certainly won't feel any remorse, that's for sure.
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What do you think of a judge letting a 22 year old with known competency to stand trial issues represent himself in a capital case?

I have some problems with that.
 
From the NY Times:

On Friday, having studied a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation, Judge Gergel ruled that Mr. Roof was competent. The standard for competency is low under federal law, merely a determination that the defendant is not suffering from a mental defect that renders him unable to assist in his defense or understand the consequences of the case. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/28/us/dylann-roof-charleston-massacre.html
 
Hawkeye10 said:
What do you think of a judge letting a 22 year old with known competency to stand trial issues represent himself in a capital case?

I have some problems with that.
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the question of competency* was resolved when he was found competent to stand trial
the defendant had counsel and chose to dismiss him with the court's approval
when he is found guilty, anticipate an appeal based on incompetent counsel



* is any person who commits murder of sound mind?
 
Thoreau72 said:
I would not object if we went Old Testament and do the old "eye for an eye" solution.
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For the most heinous and brutal crimes, I think we need more "eye for an eye", and this case is one of them. He should die the same way his victims died.
 
In general terms I don't approve of the death penalty, but only because of uncertainty.

In his case is there any doubt at all?
 
JayDubya said:
In general terms I don't approve of the death penalty, but only because of uncertainty.

In his case is there any doubt at all?
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I am ambivalent on the DP.

The argument that it deters others from committing the same crime is complete bull****. I agree with you that in too many cases the state kills an innocent person, perhaps more often than not.

In the end it might be more humane than keeping a person in prison for the rest of his life.
 
Thoreau72 said:
I am ambivalent on the DP.

The argument that it deters others from committing the same crime is complete bull****. I agree with you that in too many cases the state kills an innocent person, perhaps more often than not.

In the end it might be more humane than keeping a person in prison for the rest of his life.
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not sure we are so much serving the interests of the convicted bastard by not executing him as we are setting an ethical standard for society; to do what is within our power to settle matters without bloodletting

too many innocents have been killed by the state when we were are not absolutely certain they were the evil-doers

i believe reporters in the future, when this asshole is an old man, should be able speak with him and publish what he has to say from his cell. hopefully, he will communicate regret for is actions and that example will help us teach our young generations not to engage is such heinous acts as the then-remorseful convict
 
justabubba said:
not sure we are so much serving the interests of the convicted bastard by not executing him as we are setting an ethical standard for society; to do what is within our power to settle matters without bloodletting

too many innocents have been killed by the state when we were are not absolutely certain they were the evil-doers

i believe reporters in the future, when this asshole is an old man, should be able speak with him and publish what he has to say from his cell. hopefully, he will communicate regret for is actions and that example will help us teach our young generations not to engage is such heinous acts as the then-remorseful convict
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Noble sentiments that you offer Bubba, but any ethical standards for our society have been long gone, years ago. A very large part of our society has been conditioned to accept, condone and demand torture and war crimes. Passions are easily inflamed.
 
Hawkeye10 said:
What do you think of a judge letting a 22 year old with known competency to stand trial issues represent himself in a capital case?

I have some problems with that.
Click to expand...

You sure do!
 
From ABC News:

A federal judge agreed Monday to let a white man accused of fatally shooting nine black parishioners rehire his attorneys until a verdict is reached, but to remain his own lawyer if he is found guilty and the trial moves into a penalty phase.

The decision by U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel ended a week of Roof acting as his own lawyer in his death penalty trial. Roof wrote the Judge a handwritten note with his request over the weekend.

It is unclear why Roof is so determined to keep the lawyers out of the penalty part of his case. In their own motion Friday asking Gergel to order Roof to hire them back, they suggested there is something embarrassing Roof is afraid they might use to try to spare his life. They did not elaborate.

Dylann Roof Allowed to Hire Lawyers Back, for Now - ABC News
 
I once read about a case (forget what and where right now) where a person represented them self, then claimed incompetent representation on appeal, and was granted a new trial. Don't know if this is how Roof is thinking, but I'm suspicious. It has occurred to me that he is just playing the system.
 
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