Major Wilson v. State of Indiana

94 N.E.3d 312
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 30, 2018
Docket45A03-1707-PC-1466
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 94 N.E.3d 312 (Major Wilson v. State of Indiana) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Major Wilson v. State of Indiana, 94 N.E.3d 312 (Ind. Ct. App. 2018).

Opinion

Baker, Judge.

[1] Major Wilson appeals the denial of his petition for post-conviction relief, arguing that the post-conviction court erroneously determined that he did not receive the ineffective assistance of appellate counsel. Finding that the post-conviction court erred in its determination and that Wilson did receive the ineffective assistance of appellate counsel, we reverse and remand for further proceedings.

Facts

[2] On March 6, 2014, the State charged Wilson with ten counts of various crimes. On March 12, 2014, a public defender entered an appearance on Wilson's behalf. On July 10, 2014, Wilson filed a pro se motion asking the trial court to dismiss his public defender. A pre-trial hearing took place on July 30, 2014, during which the following exchange took place:

Public Defender: ... Judge, first thing, Mr. Wilson has asked and has actually filed with the Court, to strike the appearance of the Lake County Public Defender's Office altogether from this case.
His friends have retained a firm down in Indianapolis that will not enter their appearance until our appearance is struck, so I'm asking-
The Court: That's denied. He's set for trial.
Public Defender: I-
The Defendant: I'm ready for trial.
The Court: Pardon?
The Defendant: I'm ready for trial, ma'am.
The Court: Okay. Then we'll go to trial. If I-if I let you have substitute counsel at this point-
The Defendant: Well, can I file for pro se then. I'll do it myself. I'll represent myself.
The Court: No, no, you can't do that.
The Defendant: It's my right; right?
The Court: It's my decision. No, you don't have a right to represent yourself.
The Defendant: Well, I will not have him represent me then.
The Court: You don't have a right to represent yourself.
The Defendant: I won't have him represent me. I'm ready for trial.
The Court: You don't-you don't want [the public defender] to represent you?
The Defendant: No, I'm ready for trial.
The Court: Why is that?
*316 The Defendant: I just don't feel that he can give me reasonable representation during the trial....
* * *
The Court: Okay. All right. I can not require you to go forward with [the public defender], but I can require you to go forward on August 18th.
The Defendant: I'm ready.
The Court: So if you're-well, you may be ready, but you need to advise your people in Indianapolis that they got a trial set on August 18th.
The Defendant: And if they're not here, I'll represent myself.
The Court: No, I've already decided you can't represent yourself.
The Defendant: I'm sorry, ma'am. That's why I'm-I'm going for it. I'm sorry, I mean, I have that right. I know I have that right.
The Court: No, you don't have that right to represent yourself.
The Defendant: Yes, I do, ma'am.
The Court: You do not. Where did somebody tell you that? What right did you read? Where did you read that?
The Defendant: I have a right to represent myself; I know this.
The Court: You don't have that-see, that's why you can't represent yourself, because you don't know what rights you have.
Okay. [Public defender], we'll strike your appearance....

Appellant's Ex. p. 18-22.

[3] A second pre-trial hearing took place on August 6, 2014, during which the following exchange took place:

The Defendant: My friend has not been able to come to an agreement on the lawyer fees.
The Court: Okay.
The Defendant: And they're still working on it, but as of right now, no-no agreement on my counsel, but I am still ready to go to trial.
The Court: Okay. You're ready to go to trial.
The Defendant: Yes, ma'am.
The Court: And I remember we had the discussion about your ability to represent yourself at that trial.
The Defendant: Yeah, Judge.
The Court: I think my ruling was that I didn't find you-that that was in your best interest.
* * *
The Court: ... [Public defender]?
Public Defender: Yes, Judge.
The Court: Standby counsel?
Public Defender: I will assist the Court in any way, shape, or form.
* * *
Public Defender: If Mr. Wilson needs standby counsel, I'd be more than happy to stand in with him.

Id. at 4-6. The following exchange then took place at the bench:

Public Defender: Would you like me to be standby counsel for the trial, Judge? ...
The Court: He doesn't need you.
Public Defender: I know that. I know that.
The State: But he doesn't want anyone, Judge, other than this alleged Indianapolis attorney .... He's made that very clear that he wants to go forward on the 18th.
The Court: What is-
The State: I think it's very-I think it's very-it would be very difficult for him to not have anybody.
The Court: I think so too.
The State: But he doesn't want the-my understanding of Mr. Wilson's point of *317 view is he absolutely doesn't want [the public defender] but he also doesn't want anyone from the public defender's office ....
* * *
The State: So, I mean, I believe he needs to be made aware that he will be held to the same standards that every lawyer is held to.
The Court: This man can't present a cogent argument to me about [an unavailable witness]....
The State: I understand.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Scott Lee Van Hawk v. State of Indiana
Indiana Court of Appeals, 2026
Ronnie Fields v. State of Indiana (mem. dec.)
Indiana Court of Appeals, 2019
Jeffrey Archer v. State of Indiana
Indiana Court of Appeals, 2019
William E. Mays v. State of Indiana
120 N.E.3d 1070 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2019)
Ronnie Ricketts, Jr. v. State of Indiana
108 N.E.3d 416 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 2018)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
94 N.E.3d 312, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/major-wilson-v-state-of-indiana-indctapp-2018.