indiana edwards argued march decided june indiana charged respondent edwards attempted murder crimes shooting attempt steal pair shoes mental condition became subject three competency proceedings two requests mostly trial judge referring lengthy record psychiatric reports trial noted edwards suffered schizophrenia concluded although appeared competent stand trial competent defend trial therefore denied edwards request represented appointed counsel trial convicted two counts indiana intermediate appellate ordered new trial agreeing edwards trial refusal permit represent deprived constitutional right sixth amendment faretta california although finding record provided substantial support trial ruling indiana nonetheless affirmed intermediate appellate ground faretta godinez moran required state allow edwards represent held constitution forbid insisting upon representation counsel competent enough stand trial suffer severe mental illness point competent conduct trial proceedings pp precedents frame question presented answer dusky drope missouri set forth constitution mental competence standard forbidding trial individual lacking rational factual understanding proceedings sufficient ability consult lawyer reasonable degree rational understanding cases consider issue presented namely relation mental competence standard right similarly foundational case faretta supra held sixth fourteenth amendments include constitutional right proceed without counsel criminal defendant voluntarily intelligently elects answer question scope right finally although godinez supra presents question closer one issue focused upon defendant asked state trial permit represent change pleas guilty guilty godinez provides answer defendant ability conduct defense trial expressly issue case see case constitutional holding state may permit defendant represent tell state whether may deny defendant right represent trial pp several considerations taken together lead conclude constitution permits state limit defendant right insisting upon trial counsel defendant lacks mental competency conduct trial defense unless represented first precedent answering question points slightly direction setting forth standard focuses directly upon defendant ability consult lawyer dusky drope assume representation counsel emphasize counsel importance thus suggesting though holding choosing forgo trial counsel presents different set circumstances mental competency determination defendant stand trial also faretta rested conclusion part state cases consistent least two expressly adopt competency limitation right see second nature mental illness unitary concept varies degree vary time interferes individual functioning different times different ways cautions using single competency standard decide whether defendant represented proceed trial whether defendant goes trial must permitted represent third right trial affirm dignity defendant lacks mental capacity conduct defense without assistance counsel see mckaskle wiggins may undercut basic constitution criminal law objectives providing fair trial trial judge particularly one judge case presided one edwards competency hearings two trials often prove best able make mental capacity decisions tailored particular defendant individualized circumstances pp indiana proposed standard deny criminal defendant right represent trial communicate coherently jury rejected uncertain standard work practice also declines indiana request overrule faretta today opinion may well remedy unfair trial concerns previously leveled case pp vacated remanded breyer delivered opinion roberts stevens kennedy souter ginsburg alito joined scalia filed dissenting opinion thomas joined indiana petitioner ahmad edwards writ certiorari indiana june justice breyer delivered opinion case focuses upon criminal defendant state found mentally competent stand trial represented counsel mentally competent conduct trial must decide whether circumstances constitution forbids state insisting defendant proceed trial counsel state thereby denying defendant right represent see amdt faretta california conclude constitution forbid state insist july ahmad edwards respondent tried steal pair shoes indiana department store discovered drew gun fired store security officer wounded bystander caught charged attempted murder battery deadly weapon criminal recklessness theft mental condition subsequently became subject three competency proceedings two requests mostly trial judge first competency hearing august five months edwards arrest counsel asked psychiatric evaluation hearing psychiatrist neuropsychologist witnesses february august found edwards incompetent stand trial app committed logansport state hospital evaluation treatment see second competency hearing march seven months commitment doctors found edwards condition improved point stand trial several months later however still trial edwards counsel asked another psychiatric evaluation march judge held competency hearing considered additional psychiatric evidence april found edwards suffer ing mental illness competent assist attorneys defense stand trial charged crimes third competency hearing april seven months later still trial edwards counsel sought yet another psychiatric evaluation client april held yet another competency hearing edwards counsel presented psychiatric neuropsychological evidence showing edwards suffering serious thinking difficulties delusions testifying psychiatrist reported edwards understand charges unable cooperate attorney defense schizophrenic illness delusions marked difficulties thinking make impossible cooperate attorney november concluded edwards competent stand trial ordered recommitment state hospital first request first trial june eight months commitment hospital reported edwards condition improved point become competent stand trial almost one year edwards trial began trial edwards asked represent also asked continuance said needed order proceed pro se refused continuance edwards proceeded trial represented counsel jury convicted criminal recklessness theft failed reach verdict charges attempted murder battery second request second trial december state decided retry edwards attempted murder battery charges retrial edwards asked permit represent referring lengthy record psychiatric reports trial noted edwards still suffered schizophrenia concluded ith findings competent stand trial going find competent defend denied edwards request edwards represented appointed counsel retrial jury convicted edwards remaining counts edwards subsequently appealed indiana intermediate appellate argued trial refusal permit represent retrial deprived constitutional right amdt faretta supra agreed ordered new trial matter went indiana found record case presents substantial basis agree trial nonetheless affirmed intermediate appellate belief precedents namely faretta godinez moran required state allow edwards represent indiana request agreed consider whether constitution required trial allow edwards represent trial ii examination precedents convinces us precedents frame question presented answer two cases set forth constitution mental competence standard dusky per curiam drope missouri specify constitution permit trial individual lacks mental competency dusky defines competency standard including whether defendant rational well factual understanding proceedings whether defendant sufficient present ability consult lawyer reasonable degree rational understanding emphasis added internal quotation marks omitted drope repeats standard stating long accepted person whose mental condition lacks capacity understand nature object proceedings consult counsel assist preparing defense may subjected trial emphasis added neither case considered mental competency issue presented namely relation mental competence standard right foundational case faretta held sixth fourteenth amendments include constitutional right proceed without counsel criminal defendant voluntarily intelligently elects emphasis original implied right nearly universal conviction made manifest state law forcing lawyer upon unwilling defendant contrary basic right defend truly wants sixth amendment language granting rights accused sixth amendment structure indicating rights sets forth related fair administration american justice persona accused absence historical examples forced representation individual quoting illinois allen brennan concurring knowing intelligent waiver counsel must honored respect individual lifeblood faretta answer question us consider problem mental competency cf faretta literate competent understanding faretta later cases made clear right absolute see martinez appeal fourth appellate right direct appeal criminal case mckaskle wiggins appointment standby counsel defendant objection permissible faretta right abuse dignity courtroom ibid right avoid compliance relevant rules procedural substantive law right engag serious obstructionist misconduct referring illinois allen supra question concerns limitation scope right sole case considered mental competence together godinez supra presents question closer issue case focused upon criminal defendant asked state trial permit represent change pleas guilty guilty state trial found defendant met dusky mental competence standard knowingly intelligently waived right assistance counsel freely voluntarily chose plead guilty internal quotation marks omitted state trial consequently granted defendant requests see federal appeals however vacated defendant guilty pleas ground constitution required trial ask question namely whether defendant competent waive constitutional right counsel see competence make latter decision appeals said required defendant satisfy higher mental competency standard standard set forth dusky see dusky general standard sought determine whether defendant represented counsel competent stand trial whether competent waive right counsel reversing appeals reject ed notion competence plead guilty waive right counsel must measured standard higher even different dusky standard decision plead guilty said complicated sum total decisions represented defendant may called upon make course trial ibid hence reason believe decision waive counsel requires appreciably higher level mental functioning decision waive constitutional rights even assuming might pose special difficulties competence required defendant seeking waive right counsel competence waive right competence represent ibid emphasis original reason concluded defendant legal knowledge relevant determination quoting faretta supra concede godinez bears certain similarities present case involve mental competence involve defendant wants represent involve mental condition falls gray area dusky minimal constitutional requirement measures defendant ability stand trial somewhat higher standard measures mental fitness another legal purpose nonetheless conclude godinez answer question us part appeals higher standard issue godinez differs critical way higher standard issue godinez higher standard sought measure defendant ability proceed enter guilty plea higher standard seeks measure defendant ability conduct trial proceedings put matter specifically godinez defendant sought change pleas guilty seek conduct trial proceedings ability conduct defense trial expressly issue thus emphasized godinez needed consider defendant competence waive right emphasis original emphasized need consider defendant technical legal knowledge proceed trial internal quotation marks omitted found holding consistent earlier statement massey moore ne might insane sense incapable standing trial yet lack capacity stand trial without benefit counsel see godinez supra quoting massey noting dealt question quite different question presented godinez case matters consider godinez directly us another thing godinez involved state sought permit defendant represent godinez constitutional holding state may holding simply tell state whether may deny defendant right represent matter issue one might argue godinez grant state permission allow defendant must implicitly include permission deny cf free adopt competency standards elaborate dusky formulation yet one forcefully argue godinez simply consider whether constitution requires defendants even circumstances state seeks disallow question upshot view question us open one iii turn question presented assume criminal defendant sufficient mental competence stand trial defendant meets dusky standard defendant insists representing trial ask whether constitution permits state limit defendant right insisting upon representation counsel trial ground defendant lacks mental capacity conduct trial defense unless represented several considerations taken together lead us conclude answer question yes first precedent answering question points slightly direction affirmative answer godinez said simply leaves question open mental competency cases set forth standard focuses directly upon defendant present ability consult lawyer dusky internal quotation marks omitted capacity consult counsel ability assist counsel preparing defense drope see ibid long accepted person whose mental condition lacks capacity understand nature object proceedings consult counsel assist preparing defense may subjected trial emphasis added standards assume representation counsel emphasize importance counsel thus suggest though hold instance defendant choose forgo counsel trial presents different set circumstances view calls different standard time faretta foundational case rested conclusion part upon state law set forth cases consistent least two expressly adopt competency limitation right see citing decisions two secondary sources see cappetta state app rev grounds cited faretta supra assuring mentally competent defendant right conduct defense provided unusual circumstances exist mental derangement depriv defendant fair trial allowed conduct defense noting whether unusual circumstances evident matter resting sound discretion granted trial judge allen commonwealth mass noting assignment counsel necessary special circumstance criminal defendant mentally defective second nature problem us cautions use single mental competency standard deciding whether defendant represented counsel proceed trial whether defendant goes trial must permitted represent mental illness unitary concept varies degree vary time interferes individual functioning different times different ways history case set forth part supra illustrates complexity problem certain instances individual may well able satisfy dusky mental competence standard able work counsel trial yet time may unable carry basic tasks needed present defense without help counsel see poythress bonnie monahan otto hoge adjudicative competence macarthur studies within domain adjudicative competence competence assist counsel decisional competence data indicate understanding reasoning appreciation charges defendant separable somewhat independent aspects functional legal ability see also mckaskle describing trial tasks including organization defense making motions arguing points law participating voir dire questioning witnesses addressing jury american psychiatric association apa tells us without dispute amicus brief filed support neither party isorganized thinking deficits sustaining attention concentration impaired expressive abilities anxiety common symptoms severe mental illnesses impair defendant ability play significantly expanded role required even play lesser role represented defendant brief apa et al amici curiae motions documents defendant prepared case one include appendix infra suggest layperson common sense general conclusion third view right trial affirm dignity defendant lacks mental capacity conduct defense without assistance counsel mckaskle supra dignity autonomy individual underlie right contrary given defendant uncertain mental state spectacle well result trial least likely prove humiliating ennobling moreover insofar defendant lack capacity threatens improper conviction sentence exceptional context undercuts basic constitution criminal law objectives providing fair trial justice brennan put constitution protect none us prevented courts acting preserve processes constitution prescribes allen concurring opinion see martinez even trial level government interest ensuring integrity efficiency trial times outweighs defendant interest acting lawyer see also sell government concomitant constitutionally essential interest assuring defendant trial fair one proceedings must fair must appear fair observe wheat amicus brief reports one psychiatrist reaction observed patient patient satisfied dusky try conduct defense ow world legal system allow insane man defend brief ohio et al amici curiae internal quotation marks omitted see massey trial fair leaves defense man insane unaided counsel reason mental condition stands helpless alone application dusky basic mental competence standard help part avoid result given different capacities needed proceed trial without counsel little reason believe dusky alone sufficient time trial judge particularly one trial judge case presided one edwards competency hearings two trials often prove best able make mental capacity decisions tailored individualized circumstances particular defendant consequently conclude constitution permits judges take realistic account particular defendant mental capacities asking whether defendant seeks conduct defense trial mentally competent say constitution permits insist upon representation counsel competent enough stand trial dusky still suffer severe mental illness point competent conduct trial proceedings iv indiana also asked us adopt measure defendant ability conduct trial specific standard deny criminal defendant right represent trial defendant communicate coherently jury brief petitioner emphasis deleted sufficiently uncertain however particular standard work practice refrain endorsing federal constitutional standard need adopt indiana also asked us overrule faretta decline recognize judges sometimes expressed concern faretta contrary intent led trials unfair see martinez supra breyer concurring noting practical concerns trial judges recent empirical research suggests instances common see hashimoto defending right empirical look pro se felony defendant rev noting small number defendants chose proceed pro se roughly total state felony defendants particular appear achieved higher felony acquittal rates represented counterparts less likely convicted felonies time instances trial fairness doubt may well concentrated percent cases mental competence defendant also issue see percent federal pro se felony defendants ordered undergo competency evaluations today opinion assuring trial judges authority deal appropriately cases latter category may well alleviate fair trial concerns reasons judgment indiana vacated case remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion ordered appendix excerpt respondent filing entitled version instant offense attached presentence investigation report appointed motion permissive intervention filed therein superior caused stay action apon expiration thereafter three years plan establish youth program coordination aspects law enforcement prevent reduce crime amoung young people indiana became diplomatic act safe streets act omnibuc considerate agent membered clients within public others courts actions showcased causes costs stay trial rule derivative property knowledged events unexpended contract membered clients commission finding facilitie plan project become organization administrative recommendations conditioned governors alterations omitted indiana petitioner ahmad edwards writ certiorari indiana june justice scalia justice thomas joins dissenting constitution guarantees defendant knowingly voluntarily waives right counsel right proceed pro se trial faretta california mentally ill defendant knowingly voluntarily elects proceed pro se instead counsel receives fair trial comports fourteenth amendment godinez moran today concludes state may nonetheless strip mentally ill defendant right represent fairer view constitution permit state substitute perception fairness defendant right make case jury specific right long understood essential fair trial ahmad edwards suffers schizophrenia illness manifested different ways time depending whether edwards treated well factors appear harder identify years years edwards apparently treated antipsychotic medications drugs commonly prescribed illness edwards repeatedly declared incompetent stand trial even period however mental state seems fluctuated instance one psychiatrist march described edwards competency report free psychosis depression mania confusion alert oriented appropriate apparently able think clearly apparently psychiatrically normal app edwards seems treated antipsychotic medication first time found competent stand trial year psychiatrist making recommendation described edwards thought processes coherent wrote communicate well speech easy understand displayed good communications skills cooperative attitude average intelligence good cognitive functioning appraise roles participants courtroom proceedings capacity challenge prosecution witnesses realistically testify relevantly report robert sena course became two separate criminal trials edwards sought act lawyer filed number incoherent written pleadings judge places emphasis also filed several intelligible pleadings motion dismiss counsel motion dismiss charges indiana speedy trial provision motion seeking trial transcript edwards made arguments courtroom coherent written pleadings seeking represent first trial edwards complained detail attorney representing spent adequate time preparing sharing legal materials use defense trial judge concluded edwards knowingly voluntarily waived right counsel proceeded quiz edwards matters state law edwards correctly answered questions meaning voir dire operated described basic framework admitting videotape evidence trial though unable answer questions including questions topics covered state evidentiary rules judge identified number persisted request represent judge denied request edwards acknowledged need continuance represented counsel convicted criminal recklessness theft jury deadlocked charges attempted murder battery second trial edwards asked judge allowed proceed pro se explained attorney disagreed defense present attempted murder charge edwards counsel favored lack intent kill edwards defendant put objection attorney actually discussed defense think prosecution mentioned disagreement defense defense like represent present judge rejected edwards request proceed pro se time justification edwards sought continuance dispute edwards knowingly intelligently waived right counsel stated going carve third exception right without explaining precisely abilities edwards lacked stated edwards competent stand trial going find competent defend edwards sought request counsel raising objection open address judge matter judge refused stating issue already decided edwards attorney pursued defense attorney judged best lack intent edwards convicted attempted murder battery indiana held entitled new trial denied right represent state indiana sought certiorari granted ii constitution guarantees every criminal defendant right proceed without counsel voluntarily intelligently elects faretta right reflects nearly universal conviction part people well courts forcing lawyer upon unwilling defendant contrary basic right defend truly wants faretta discussion history right includes observation long history british criminal jurisprudence one tribunal ever adopted practice forcing counsel upon unwilling defendant criminal proceeding tribunal star chamber faretta described right proceed pro se premise sixth amendment confers tools defense accused describes role attorney one assistance right also seen part traditional meaning due process clause see martinez appeal fourth appellate scalia concurring judgment whichever provision provides source means state simply may force lawyer upon criminal defendant wishes conduct defense faretta exercising right requires waiving right counsel defendant may represent waives lawyer assistance guaranteed sixth amendment must made aware dangers disadvantages record must establish knows choice made eyes open ibid quoting adams ex rel mccann limitation may relevant many mentally ill defendants dispute edwards one edwards warned extensively risks proceeding pro se trial judge found edwards knowingly voluntarily waived right counsel first trial app second trial judge denied right represent carv ing new exception right beyond standard knowing voluntary waiver defendant appreciates risks forgoing counsel chooses voluntarily constitution protects ability present defense even harms case fact waiving counsel usually mckaskle wiggins see also faretta nonetheless said defendant choice must honored respect individual lifeblood law ibid constitution requires state case subject rigorous adversarial testing possible permits defendant eliminate adversarial testing pleading guilty constitution requires defendant given right challenge state case using arguments sees fit godinez held due process clause posed barrier permitting defendant suffered mental illness waive right counsel plead guilty long competent stand trial knowingly voluntarily waived trial counsel right never rule common law defendant competent stand trial yet incompetent either exercise give rights provided defense kennedy concurring part concurring judgment rejected invitation craft higher competency standard waiving counsel standing trial proposal said built flawed premise defendant competence represent relevant measure competence required defendant seeking waive right counsel competence waive right competence represent grounded faretta candid acknowledgment sixth amendment protected defendant right conduct defense disadvantage correct case presents variation godinez presents question whether another constitutional requirement godinez proposed higher degree competence required waiver limits defendant constitutional right elect whether state view fairness values permits strip defendant right makes question us easier one one constitutional requirement must yield another case conflict nothing permits state view fair deny constitutional protection although purpose rights set forth sixth amendment ensure fair trial follow rights disregarded long trial whole fair thus although confrontation clause aims produce fairness ensuring reliability testimony may provide unconfronted testimony used trial long reliable crawford washington rejected approach individual liberties right purposes eliminates right supra quoting maryland craig scalia dissenting today right accorded respect constitutional guarantees circumstance permitted state deprive defendant trial right one allowed state deny rights necessary enable trial proceed orderly fashion overriding necessity said justifies forfeiture even sixth amendment right present trial threatened removal defendant insists conducting manner disorderly disruptive disrespectful trial carried courtroom illinois allen pro se defendant may abuse dignity courtroom may fail comply relevant rules procedural substantive law may terminate defendant deliberately engages serious obstructionist misconduct faretta supra ground terminating unavailable however edwards even allowed begin represent respectful compliant provide basis conclude trial gone forward allowed press claims beyond circumstance never constrained ability defendant retain actual control case chooses present jury termed core faretta right wiggins supra thus faretta recognized right bar appointing standby counsel explained wiggins pro se defendant must allowed control organization content defense make motions argue points law participate voir dire question witnesses address jury appropriate points trial furthermore multiple voices confuse message defendant wishes convey standby attorney participation barred destroy jury perception defendant representing explained adopt approach right squarely rejected rights allowing courts disregard right serves purposes right intended adopt approach remain dissent believe assessment purposes right inaccurate boot little doubt preserving individual refers ante paramount among purposes equally little doubt loss dignity right designed prevent defendant making fool presenting amateurish even incoherent defense rather dignity issue human dignity master one fate rather ward state dignity individual choice faretta explained sixth amendment counsel clause invoked impair exercise defendant free dispense right quoting adams whatever else may said wrote bill rights surely doubt understood inestimable worth free choice nine years later wrote wiggins right served dignity autonomy accused explained uncertain terms meant according every defendant right say particular said individual dignity autonomy barred standby counsel participating manner destroy jury perception defendant representing meant pro se defendant entitled preserve actual control case chooses present jury sum honor particular conception dignity underlies right respect autonomy individual honoring choices knowingly voluntarily made purpose finds advanced denial right purpose assuring trials appear fair observe ante knowledge never denied defendant right simply ground make trial appear less fair outside observers inaugurate principle apply deny defendant right represent knowingly voluntarily waives counsel edwards stood say defense like represent present judge app seems epitome actual apparent unfairness judge say heard desire proceed denied request attorney speak iii may permits state deprive mentally ill defendants historic component fair trial suspicious constitutional footing right right explicitly set forth text sixth amendment members expressed skepticism faretta holding see martinez supra questioning relevance historical evidence underlying faretta holding breyer concurring noting judges closer firing line sometimes expressed dismay practical consequences right sixth amendment makes mention right forgo counsel provides defendant lawyer right call witnesses defense confront witnesses counsel permitted assist defence emphasis added trial system however allows attorney representing defendant full authority manage conduct trial authority without adversary process function effectively taylor illinois see also florida nixon held client must accept consequences lawyer decision forgo decide put certain witnesses stand decide disclose identity certain witnesses advance trial taylor supra thus order defendant right call witnesses witnesses put defense anything tenuous unacceptable legal fiction defendant must consented representation counsel faretta supra otherwise defense presented defense guaranteed constitution real sense defense ibid facts case illustrate point utmost clarity edwards wished take case jury counsel preferred defense focused lack intent denied right conduct defense edwards convicted without opportunity present jury grounds believed supported innocence doubt likely convicted anyway hold defendant may deprived right make legal arguments acquittal simply agent made different arguments behalf justice frankfurter wrote adams supra imprison man privileges call constitution singling mentally ill defendants treatment opinion even questionable virtue politically correct time society trying mainstream mentally impaired permits deprived basic constitutional right good today holding extraordinarily vague accept indiana position denied defendant communicate coherently jury ante even hold edwards properly denied right represent holds lack mental competence circumstances form basis denying right proceed pro se ante presumably give meaning holding future indeterminacy makes bad holding worse right mentally ill sometime thing trial judges every incentive make lives easier avoid painful necessity deciphering occasional pleadings sort contained appendix today opinion appointing knowledgeable literate counsel think defendant competent stand trial capable knowing voluntary waiver assistance counsel constitutional right conduct defense respectfully dissent