Danny Savalos

This is why they're destined to fail, because they simply don't have access to the same information, the rules, the law, especially when they're in custody as a lawyer.

This is why they're destined to fail, because they simply don't have access to the same information, the rules, the law, especially when they're in custody as a lawyer.

It's possible. But here's the thing. Juries, I think, are very sensitive to how self-interested a pro se defendant is. And, you know, you mentioned the monologue and different courts do different things. Sometimes the court will appoint a standby counsel and they can do that over the defendant's objection.

It's possible. But here's the thing. Juries, I think, are very sensitive to how self-interested a pro se defendant is. And, you know, you mentioned the monologue and different courts do different things. Sometimes the court will appoint a standby counsel and they can do that over the defendant's objection.

Sometimes they'll require that lawyer to ask questions on direct examination instead of that monologue style. And the monologue style, in my view, is a bad idea because an untrained defendant is going to veer into areas that that are either inadmissible, irrelevant, or open the door. Maybe if they make a comment about, I'm not the kind of person that does this.

Sometimes they'll require that lawyer to ask questions on direct examination instead of that monologue style. And the monologue style, in my view, is a bad idea because an untrained defendant is going to veer into areas that that are either inadmissible, irrelevant, or open the door. Maybe if they make a comment about, I'm not the kind of person that does this.

Uh-oh, you've just opened the door to character evidence. You've absolutely torpedoed your own case.

Uh-oh, you've just opened the door to character evidence. You've absolutely torpedoed your own case.

Exactly right. If you're a criminal defendant, you are privileged to sit there and say nothing. But instead, if you take take on your own defense, now you have the uncomfortable position of questioning witnesses, including family members like this. And you have to ask questions like, did I do this? Do you remember when I did this?

Exactly right. If you're a criminal defendant, you are privileged to sit there and say nothing. But instead, if you take take on your own defense, now you have the uncomfortable position of questioning witnesses, including family members like this. And you have to ask questions like, did I do this? Do you remember when I did this?

And jurors see that as really the defendant arguing with the witness because that's what it is. I mean, you can't detach what's happening and just think of this as another lawyer questioning a witness.

And jurors see that as really the defendant arguing with the witness because that's what it is. I mean, you can't detach what's happening and just think of this as another lawyer questioning a witness.

Not a good idea. I think I said that a few times.

Not a good idea. I think I said that a few times.

There's an old saying, he who represents himself has a fool for a client.

There's an old saying, he who represents himself has a fool for a client.

There's an old saying, he who represents himself has a fool for a client.

Hey, thanks for having me.

Hey, thanks for having me.

Hey, thanks for having me.