Opinion · Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

United States v. James David Kimmel

United States v. James David Kimmel, 672 F.2d 720 (9th Cir. 1982)

Type
Opinion
Court
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Jurisdiction
Federal
Date
1982-04-05
Topic
general

How later courts describe this case

  • holding that an accused must knowingly and intelligently waive right to counsel when he assumes core functions of the lawyer
  • the accused will often undermine his own defense by assuming functions traditionally performed by a lawyer

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UpLaw has not yet analyzed United States v. James David Kimmel. The absence of a flag is not a finding that it is good law.

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UNITED STATES v. KIMMEL,672 F.2d 720(9th Cir. 1982)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, v. JAMES DAVID KIMMEL,
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.
No. 80-1562.
United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
Submitted August 12, 1981.
Decided March 4, 1982.
As Amended March 29 and April 5, 1982.
On Return to Remand July 22, 1982.
Page 721
Gordon M. Bronson, Honolulu, Hawaii, for defendant-appellant.

Stephen D. Tom, Asst. U.S. Atty., Honolulu, Hawaii, for plaintiff-appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii.
Before SKELTON,fn*Senior Judge, CHOY and REINHARDT, Circuit Judges.
CHOY, Circuit Judge:
[1] James David Kimmel appeals his convictions for distributing and conspiring to distribute LSD in violation of21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 846. We reach only two issues at this stage of the appeal. First, we hold that Kimmel did not receive the benefits of his constitutional right to legal representation at his trial. Second, we hold that the record does not show that he made a knowing and intelligent waiver of his right to counsel. Because the district court may be able to supply additional information about Kimmel's understanding at the time of the waiver, we remand to allow the district court to supplement the record.

[2] I.The Need for a Waiver

[3] A court-appointed advisor assisted Kimmel in hispro sedefense. The role of an advisor is to "merely advise or to give the accused meaningful technical assistance in presentation of the defense and the saving of the record for appeal."UnitedStates v. Coupez,603 F.2d 1347, 1351 (9th Cir. 1979). Attorney Gordon Bronson, the advisor in this case, performed more than these traditional functions. In addition to counseling Kimmel on technical points, he actively argued before the district court and, by the end of the proceedings, emerged as the dominant spokesman for the defense. He did not, however, assume all the duties of a full-fledged counsel. For example, Kimmel formulated and presented his major defense that the United States courts have no jurisdiction over him because he is a citizen of the sovereign nation of Hawaii.

[4] The district court has the authority to allow, if the accused desires, a hybrid form of representation in which the accused assumes some of the lawyer's functions as Kimmel did.See, e.g.,United States v. Halbert,640 F.2d 1000, 1009 (9th Cir. 1981). Although we question the efficiency of hybrid arrangements, the district court suffers the major inconvenience and can usually best weigh the costs and benefits.

[5] The Government argues that when the accused and his lawyer join forces to manage and present the defense, the accused receives all the benefits of representation by a lawyer and, consequently, there is no need for a waiver of counsel. We disagree. When the accused assumes functions that are at the core of the lawyer's traditional role, as Kimmel did, he will often undermine his own did, he will often undermine his own defense. Because he has a constitutional right to have his lawyer perform core functions, he must knowingly and intelligently waive that right. This holding is a logical extension of the well-established rule that a waiver is required despite the presence of a court-appointed advisor.See, e.g., United States v. Dujanovic,486 F.2d 182(9th Cir. 1973).

[6] II.The Adequacy of the Waiver

[7] A waiver of counsel cannot be knowing and intelligent unless the accused appreciates the possible consequences of mishandling these core functions and the lawyer's superior ability to perform them. Our task is to determine from the record whether the accused understood these risks when he elected to represent himself.Faretta v. California,422 U.S. 806, 835, 95 S.Ct. 2525,Page 7222541, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975). We prefer trial courts to simplify our review by explaining the risks of self-representation to the accused. However, because the test concerns what the accused understood rather than what the court said or understood, explanations are not required.See, e.g.,Cooley v. United States,501 F.2d 1249, 1252 (9th Cir. 1974),cert. denied,419 U.S. 1123, 95 S.Ct. 809, 42 L.Ed.2d 824 (1975).

[8] The district court did not explain on the record the risks of self-representation to Kimmel. In the absence of a specific waiver inquiry, we must consult "the particular facts and circumstances surrounding that case, including the background, experience and conduct of the accused."Id.at 1252. The record reveals that Kimmel was well educated and literate. He also had been prosecuted several times before and, in at least one case, had represented himself without the assistance of an attorney. While this background information suggests that Kimmel appreciated the risks of self-representation, we need more details to conclude that he sufficiently understood them. For example, it would be helpful to know whether Kimmel was informed about these risks when he represented himself previously. The existing record does not supply these details or other evidence that adequately supports a finding of an intelligent waiver.

[9] When the record suggests that there is additional evidence available about the adequacy of a waiver, we may allow the trial court to supplement the record.Rhinehart v. Gunn,661 F.2d 738, 739-40 (9th Cir. 1981) (concerning a state prisoner's petition for habeas corpus);Davis v. Morris,657 F.2d 1104, 1106 (9th Cir. 1981) (same). InUnited States v. Tompkins,623 F.2d 824, 828-29 (2d Cir. 1980), the Second Circuit Court of Appeals instructed a federal district court to supplement the record, explaining:
Although the record does not convince us that Tompkins unequivocally waived his right to counsel, we are reluctant to reverse. At oral argument, the Government raised an important question concerning Tompkin's past experience in representing himself in criminal proceedings. Since that information may shed new light on Tompkin's behavior during the instant prosecution, we remand this case to the district court for the limited purpose of determining whether Tompkins unequivocally elected to waive his right to counsel, or simply attempted to manipulate the court to create a basis for reversal. We recognize that a direct criminal appeal is rarely remanded to the trial court for additional fact-finding. Nonetheless, where, as there, the record is silent on so crucial a question of fact as the intent to waive counsel, no other disposition is possible.


[10] For reasons similar to those inTompkins,we elect this procedure here to enable us to make a more informed judgment about Kimmel's waiver and, if sufficient information results, avoid the costs of a new trial.

[11] This case is the first in which we have used a limited remand to supplement a record that does not show a knowing and intelligent waiver of counsel. In a number of similar cases, this court simply reversed the conviction and remanded for a new trial.United States v. Crowhurst,596 F.2d 389, 391 (9th Cir. 1979);United States v. Aponte,591 F.2d 1247, 1250 (9th Cir. 1978);United States v. Gillings,568 F.2d 1307, 1310 (9th Cir.),cert. denied,436 U.S. 919, 98 S.Ct. 2267, 56 L.Ed.2d 760 (1978);United States v. Dujanovic,486 F.2d 182, 188 (9th Cir. 1973). These cases do not foreclose the use of a limited remand to supplement the record. Given that the limited remand is a prudential device which until recently has been used quite sparingly in this circuit, we are not surprised that the court has not had occasion previously to apply it in this context. We believe that the use of a limited remand to supplement the record is the best course of action in this case because the record suggests that additional relevant information is available.

[12] III.Order

[13] We remand this case for the limited purpose of affording the district court the opportunityPage 723to supplement the record, using whatever procedure it deems most efficient, on whether Kimmel made a knowing and intelligent waiver. This court retains jurisdiction of the appeal.
[14] REINHARDT, Circuit Judge, concurring in part and dissenting in part:
[15] I concur in the opinion of the majority insofar as it holds (1) that Kimmel did not receive the benefit of his constitutional right to legal representation at his trial, (2) that under the circumstances of this case a knowing and intelligent waiver1of the right to counsel was required, and (3) that the record does not show that Kimmel made a knowing and intelligent waiver of that right prior to trial. I dissent from that portion of the opinion which orders a limited remand to allow the district court to supplement the record with "further details" of Kimmel's background, experience, and conduct.

[16] In this case, the majority employs a limited remand procedure which lacks the support of precedent and reason, and which directly conflicts with the uniform and unquestioned practice in this circuit. When the record on appeal from a conviction in the district court fails to show that the defendant made a knowing and intelligent waiver of the right to counsel before proceeding to trial, our practice has been to reverse the conviction and order a new trial. The majority departs from our heretofore unquestioned procedure without discussing or distinguishing any of the cases in which it has been applied. Instead, in support of its use of an extraordinary and unprecedented limited remand procedure (which permits the record to be supplemented with facts not before the district court at the time the waiver was accepted), the majority relies on two habeas corpus cases from our circuit, and a case involving unique circumstances from the Second Circuit. None of those cases is applicable here.

[17] If we are to break with precedent and blaze a new trial in the area of waiver of the right to counsel, I would much prefer that we address and resolve a question of continued uncertainty in this area of the law: Whether the district court mustformallyadvise the defendant of the risks of self-representation, the nature of the charges, and the consequences of conviction before accepting a waiver of the right to counsel, and in the absence of aformalwarning, whether the conviction of a defendant who represents himself must be reversed. I believe that we should now state explicitly what we have strongly suggested in the past. First, when a defendant seeks to waive his right to counsel, the court must formally advise him on the record of the matters described above before accepting his waiver, and second, if the court fails to do so, the conviction will be reversed. Such a rule is both prudent and necessary to assure the protection of the fundamental constitutional right here involved. However, accepting as I must that such aper serule is not yet the law in this circuit, I nevertheless disagree with the majority's characterization of the showing required to establish a knowing and intelligent waiver of the right to counsel — as well as with the limited remand procedure employed in this case.

[18]The Limited Remand

[19] After holding clearly and unequivocally that the record fails to show a knowing and intelligent waiver by Kimmel of his right toPage 724counsel,2the majority remands the case to allow the district court to "supplement the record" with "details" or background information. As the majority admits, we have never previously remanded a case to the district court for this purpose. To the contrary, where as here, therecordon appeal fails to show that the defendant made a knowing and intelligent waiver of counsel in the district court, the procedure uniformly followed in this circuit has been to reverse the conviction and remand for a new trial.United States v. Crowhurst,596 F.2d 389, 391 (9th Cir. 1979);United States v. Aponte,591 F.2d 1247, 1250 (9th Cir. 1978);United States v. Gillings,568 F.2d 1307, 1310 (9th Cir.),cert. denied,436 U.S. 919, 98 S.Ct. 2267, 56 L.Ed.2d 760 (1978);United States v. Dujanovic,486 F.2d 182, 188 (9th Cir. 1973). Rather than follow this well established precedent, the majority concluded that it is not bound by our prior decisions and ordersex nihiloa limited remand. In so doing, it allows the district court to supplement the record with facts which were not on the record at the time the district court determined that the defendant made a knowing and intelligent waiver — facts which, as I will explain later, could not have established a valid waiver even if adduced before the district court prior to the time it accepted the waiver — facts which certainly cannot now be usedpost factoto support a waiver. The only reason offered by the majority for its failure to follow our well established precedent is that "the limited remand is a prudential device which until recently has been used quite sparingly in this circuit."3

[20] The majority opinion relies on three cases that are clearly inapplicable here:Rhinehart v. Gunn,661 F.2d 738(9th Cir. 1981),Davis v. Morris,657 F.2d 1104(9th Cir. 1981), andTompkins v. United States,623 F.2d 824(2d Cir. 1980). InDavis,the defendant petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus in federal court after being convicted in state court. The state court judgePage 725had refused to allow the defendant to represent himself at a time when defendant in California had no such right,i.e.,before the Supreme Court's decision inFaretta v.California,422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975). Because the defendant had no right to represent himself at the time of his trial, the trial judge had no reason to explain on the record the reasons for denying the defendant's request to proceedpro se.This court inDavisdid not remand, as does the majority in this case, so that further "details or other evidence" regarding the defendant's "background, experience, or conduct" could be developed by the trial court to justify acceptance of a waiver "where the existing record does not ... adequately support a finding of an intelligent waiver." Rather, we remanded to allow the state trial judge to state on the record his reasons for denying the defendant's request to proceedprose.

[21] Similarly, inRhinehart v. Gunn,661 F.2d 738(9th Cir. 1981), we employed a limited remand to allow a state court trial judge to state his reasons on the record for denying the defendant's request to proceedpro sewhen the denial was made before the Supreme Court's decision inFarretta v. California.InRhinehart,we explained why a remand to allow a state trial judge to explain on the record the reasons for his decision is appropriate in the setting of a habeas corpus proceeding:
we deem it appropriate to afford the state judge (who is still actively serving) the opportunity for a hearingas to the reasonsthat led him to deny Rhinehart's motion to represent himself.See Davisv. Morris,657 F.2d 1104(9th Cir. 1981). In part we are persuaded to take this course by the rationale ofSummer v. Mata,449 U.S. 539, 101 S.Ct. 764, 66 L.Ed.2d 722 (1981) and its warnings as to the maintenance of due regard for findings of fact by the state courts in habeas corpus cases, and the proper respect for the `smooth functioning of the federal system' (449 U.S. 539, 101 S.Ct. at St 767). The course we follow here will also permit Rhinehart to exhaust his state remedies which he has not heretofore raised in the state court system ....


[22]Rhinehart v. Gunn,661 F.2d 738, 739-40 (9th Cir. 1981) (emphasis added).

[23] We afford a certain deference to state court findings, as we did inDavisandRhinehart,when those findings are attacked collaterally in federal court; obviously, the same notions of federalism are not implicated in this appeal. Moreover, in bothDavisandRhinehartthe remand was designed to allow a state judge to explain his reasons for denying a request to proceedpro sewhen that denial was made before the defendants in those cases had a recognized right to represent themselves.4In neither case did we remand the matter to allow the trial court to supplement a record with details of the defendant's background, experience and conduct. Although the majority opinion citesRhinehart v. GunnandDavis v. Morrisas support for the limited remand procedure it employs in this case, it subsequently admits that there isnoprecedent in this circuit for such a procedure. As the majority states, "[t]his case is the first in which we have used a limited remand to supplement a record that does not show a knowing and intelligent waiver."

[24] Although in the Second Circuit case ofTompkins v. UnitedStates,623 F.2d 824(2dPage 726Cir. 1980), relied on by the majority, the court did remand to allow for an evidentiary hearing on the question of waiver, the court stated that the facts in that case justified the use of an exceptional procedure. The opinion itself is notable in that it contains strongly worded but clearly inconsistent statements on the question of whether the defendant had deliberately attempted to create a confusing record on the issue of waiver. After stating "the facts before us simply do not reveal a deliberate plot to manipulate the court by alternatively requesting, then waiving counsel," the court went on to hold:
We remand this case to the district court for thelimited purpose of determining whether Tompkinsunequivocally elected to waive his right to counsel,or simply attempted to manipulate the court to createa basis for reversal.


[25]Id.at 829 (emphasis added). The Second Circuit also noted that the issue of the defendant's deliberate attempt to manipulate the record was first raised on appeal, that "a direct criminal appeal is rarely remanded to the trial court for additional fact finding" and that the remand inTompkinswas a limited exception to the rule it normally follows in such cases. The majority in this case states that its use of the limited remand procedure is based on "reasons similar to those inTompkins," but the majority fails to state what those reasons are and the record reflects none. Thus,Tompkinsoffers no support for the majority's use of the limited remand procedure here.

[26] There are sound reasons why we reverse and require a new trial, rather than remand for further evidence, when a waiver of the right to counsel is not established on the record. We need only discuss one here. InUnited States v. Aponte,591 F.2d 1247, 1250 (9th Cir. 1978), we held that the determination of the validity of a waiver of counselmust be made beforethe defendant proceeds to trial and cannot be reconstructedpostfacto.InAponte,the district court failed to conduct a proper inquiry before trial on two matters: whether the defendant knowingly and intelligently waived his right to counsel and whether he was competent to stand trial. The district court subsequently interrupted the trial to make those determinations after Aponte's advisory counsel had moved for a mistrial on the ground that the defendant was not competent to stand trial. The trial judge heard the testimony of three psychiatrists and ruled that the defendant was competent to waive counsel and to stand trial. The court allowed the trial to continue and Aponte was convicted.

[27] We upheld the district court's finding that Aponte was competent to stand trial but reversed his conviction and remanded for a new trial because of the district court's failure to make a proper determinationbefore trialas to whether Aponte made a knowing and intelligent waiver of counsel:
[United States v.] Dujanovic,[486 F.2d 182,] teaches that the election [to waive counsel] must be testedbefore trialand that the record must show the basis for the court's finding that the right to counsel has been competently and intelligently waived.
. . . .
Since the trial judge may not allow a defendant torepresent himself without first determining thatthere has been a waiver of the right to counsel,the decision on the defendant's competence to waive cannot be deferred.


[28]Id.at 1250 (emphasis added).

[29] We concluded that "Aponte's conviction must be reversed because the record does not disclose that he knowingly and intelligently waived his right to counsel before electing to represent himself."Id.at 1249. We explained that the purpose of requiring the determination to be made before trial was that if the district court delayed the determination until after the trial had commenced, there was a danger that the trial judge might impressibly consider the defendant's post-waiver conduct in judging the validity of the waiver.

[30] The district court in this case failed to determine before trial whether Kimmel made a knowing and intelligent waiver ofPage 727the right to counsel as required byAponte.It merely accepted Kimmel's decision without making any of the inquires which would have allowed it to decide whether the waiver was knowing and intelligent. The reasons which led us, inAponte,to proscribepost factoinquiries are especially pertinent here. In this case the danger that the trial court will "impressibly consider" the defendant's conduct after the purported waiver is obvious. Here, the majority allows apost factoexamination not only after the trial has been completed, but after the court has heard post-trial motions brought by Kimmel actingpro se.Thus, the limited remand presents the danger that the district court may impressibly consider factors not before the court at the time the waiver was accepted, the very danger that our holding inApontewas intended to prevent.

[31] In light of the uniform procedure of this court of reversing the conviction and remanding for a new trial when the record in a direct appeal does not demonstrate a valid waiver, I do not believe we should adopt a contrary procedure for Kimmel. His case does not differ materially from our previous cases involving waiver of the right to counsel; even if it did, an unreasoned departure from the rule we have uniformly followed would be unwarranted. If the majority feels compelled to treat Kimmel's appeal differently from all others, it should at the very least discuss and distinguish the cases in which we have reversed convictions and explain the reasons for its choosing not to follow them. In my view, the procedure we have uniformly utilized is a sound one and is binding upon us here.

[32] For the reasons stated above, I would follow our well established precedent, reverse the conviction, and remand for a new trial.

[33]Proof of Waiver

[34] I also disagree with the majority concerning the showing which is required in order to establish that a waiver of counsel is "knowing and intelligent." As I have noted previously, it is regrettably not yet the law in this circuit that the district courtmust formallyadvise the defendant of the risks of self-representation, the nature of the charges, and the consequences of conviction before the court can determine that the defendant's waiver of counsel is knowing and intelligent. However, we have repeatedly warned district courts that "the only practical means to protect against . . . a reversal" is to establish on the record that the defendant has expressly been made aware of the risks and consequences of a waiver of the right to counsel.United States v. Aponte,591 F.2d 1247, 1250 (9th Cir. 1978);see also United States v. Bird,621 F.2d 989(9th Cir. 1980). InUnited States v. Dujanovic,486 F.2d 182, 188 (9th Cir. 1973), we termed the use of that procedure "a minimal requirement" for the acceptance of a waiver of counsel by the district court.

[35] Here, all the district court did was to accept the defendant's decision to dispense with counsel. It neither expressly advised him of the risks and consequences nor engaged in any colloquy concerning the defendant's knowledge or understanding thereof.5The majority states that in the absence of a specific waiver inquiry, the court may determine the validity of a waiver by considering the defendant's background, experience, and conduct. While these factors may be relevant in determining whether the defendant was capable of understanding a warning or other information given him by the court, they cannot establish that the defendant was expressly made aware of the risks and consequences of his waiver.

[36] The majority erroneously relies on our opinion inCooley v.United States,501 F.2d 1249(9th Cir. 1974),cert. denied,419 U.S. 1123, 95 S.Ct. 809, 42 L.Ed.2d 824 (1975), as support for its statement thatin the absence of a specific inquiry bythe court into the defendant's awareness of the risks ofself-representation,the court "must consult the particular facts and circumstances surroundingPage 728that case, including the background, experience and conduct of the accused." In fact,Cooleystands for the wholly different proposition thatwherethe court has expressly made the defendant aware of the risks ofself-representation,the defendant's "background, experience, and conduct" may be considered in determining whether he understood and "appreciated" the court's warning.

[37] A review of our decision relating to the waiver of counsel issue, decisions which the majority simply dismisses without discussion, demonstrates that the defendantmust be expresslymade awareof the risks and consequences of his waiver of counsel in order to render a waiver of that right knowing and intelligent.6InUnited States v. Dujanovic,486 F.2d 182(9th Cir. 1973), the defendant refused the services of a public defender, who was nonetheless directed to sit at the defendant's side during the trial in order to offer advice when requested and to preserve the record for appeal. In holding that the record did not demonstrate that the defendant competently and intelligently waived his right to counsel, we stated:
We cannot visualize a less minimal requirement than the district court shall not grant a request to waive counsel and proceedpro sewithout addressing the accused personally and determining on the record that the demand to waive counsel and proceedpro seis competently and intelligently made with the understanding of the nature of the charge and the penalties involved.


[38]Id.at 186.

[39] While inDujanovicwe said that the above statement was only admonitory,see id.at 188 n.2, weheldthat because the defendant was not expressly advised of the risks and consequences of his waiver of the right to counsel, the waiver was not made competently and intelligently.Id.at 188. We noted "that at no time during the waiver proceedings did the district judge personally advise the appellant of . . . the consequences of his choice of self-representation" and that the record in that case did not show that the defendant was advised by the trial court or "any other person" as to the nature of the charges and possible penalties.Id.Thus, our concern inDujanovicwas with whether the defendant was expressly advised of the risks of self-representation, the nature of the charges and the consequences of conviction.

[40] The holding inDujanovicwas subsequently applied inCooley,501 F.2d at 1249. The defendant claimed that it wasper sereversible error for the trial court not to personally address the defendant in court regarding the risks of self-representation. While we refused to adopt aper serule, we found that the record demonstrated that the defendant wasexpressly made aware by the courtof the risks and consequences of his decision to waive counsel:
. . . . On September 25, 1972 . . . he was given a copy of the information and advised of the consequences in the event he was convicted on the charges. Appellant stated that he understood what he was charged with and stated to the court that before he entered his plea he would like to have the matter presented to a grand jury because of the possible penalties involved . . . .
. . . The court again advised appellant he was in an area where he needed professional competence. The court further observed that appellant and others similarly situated misunderstood, in his opinion, the legal issues involved.


[41]Id.at 1250 n.2.

[42] Therefore, inCooleywe had no occasion to, and did not, say that an inquiry into the defendant's background, experience, and conduct was sufficient where the defendant wasnotexpressly advised of the risks and consequences of proceeding without counsel.Page 729

[43] Subsequent decisions of the Supreme Court and this court have made it clear that the defendantmust expressly be made awareof the risks and consequences of self-representation. After our decisions inDujanovicandCooley,the Supreme Court held inFaretta v. California,422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975) that a defendant has a constitutional right to represent himself in a state proceeding. In discussing whether the defendant inFaretta"had knowingly and intelligently" waived his right to counsel and demanded that he represent himself, the Court stated that the defendant "should be made aware of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation, so that the record will establish that he knows what he is doing and his choice is made with his eyes wide open."Id.at 2539. The trial judge inFarettainformed the defendant on the record that he would be expected to comply with the usual practices and procedures of the court, that the defendant was making a mistake in representing himself, and that a lawyer would be more familiar with the "ground rules" of trial practice. The Supreme Court concluded that under these circumstances the court should have allowed the defendant to represent himself.

[44] In a series ofpost-Farettadecisions, we have emphasized that the critical issue in determining the validity of a waiver is whether the defendantwas expressly made aware of the risksof self-representation.Normally, this requires a specific explanation by the trial judge, although failure to do so may not constitute reversible error if the record clearly demonstrates that the defendant was "fully informed" of those risks by some other person.See United States v. Crowhurst,596 F.2d 389, 391 (9th Cir. 1979) (citingCooley v. United States,501 F.2d at 1252);United States v. Aponte,591 F.2d 1247, 1250 (9th Cir. 1978). As we said inCrowhurst:
No decision of our court that has addressed the waiver of counsel issue has held that the district court may dispense with the requirement that an accused individual must specifically be made aware of the charges and their possible penalties and sanctions.See, e.g., United States v. Aponte,supra; United States v. Gillings,568 F.2d 1307(9th Cir. 1978);Cooley v. United States,501 F.2d 1249(9th Cir. 1974);Hodge v. United States,414 F.2d 1040(9th Cir. 1969) (en banc). It may be that the district court's inadvertent omission in this respect would not constitute reversible error if the record clearly disclosed that Crowhurst had, in some manner, been fully informed as to the nature and possible penalties of the crimes charged in the indictment.See United States v. Aponte, supra,at 1249-50;Cooley v. United States, supra,at 1252. We have, however, studied and restudied the record before us, and we can find no evidence whatsoever that the required information was imparted.


[45]Id.at 390-91.

[46] InCrowhurstthe court had specifically informed the defendant on the record of the disadvantages of proceedingprose;however, such warning was found insufficient to support a valid waiver where the defendant was not also specifically informed of the charges and the possible penalties.Crowhurstemphasizes the point that a valid waiver of counsel cannot be made by a defendant who has not been specifically made aware of the risks and consequences of his choice to forego the assistance of counsel. To the same effect is our holding inUnited Statesv. Bird,621 F.2d 989(9th Cir. 1980), another post-Farettacase in which we reversed a conviction for failure to expressly advise the defendant of the risks and consequences of his waiver of counsel.See also United States v. Aponte,591 F.2d 1247(9th Cir. 1978) (stating that only practical means to avoid reversal is to make a record demonstrating that the defendant was made aware of the risks and consequences of waiver).7Page 730

[47] In light of our post-Farettaholdings, it is not sufficient in the absence of a specific inquiry on the record merely to look at the defendant's "background, experience, and conduct" to determine if the defendant made a knowing and intelligent waiver. At the very least the record must show that the defendant wasexpressly made aware of the risks of self-representation, thenature of the charges, and the consequences of conviction.8

[48]Application to the Facts in This Case

[49] We are considering here the waiver of a fundamental constitutional right. We are required to indulge in every reasonable presumption against its waiver.Johnson v. Zerbst,304 U.S. 458, 465, 58 S.Ct. 1019, 1023, 82 L.Ed. 1461 (1938). It is therefore particularly surprising that the majority utilizes an unprecedented limited remand procedure and orders a general inquiry into the background, experience, and conduct of a defendant like Kimmel. The record shows that Kimmel is an individual who was suffering from both mental and physical disabilities. His primary defense was that Hawaii was not part of the United States. He claimed that he was a citizen of the sovereign nation of Hawaii and therefore was not subject to the laws of the United States. The record indicates that his use of drugs was part of a religion of his own making, that he believed that he was Special Ambassador of the Sovereign Creator of the Universe, that he refused to believe that the Shah of Iran was dead, and that he sought to subpoena Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and various other high government officials in support of his defense. Further, although Kimmel is approximately thirty years old, the trial judge noted that he looked to be a man of about eighty. Perhaps the best view of Kimmel may be gleaned from a reading of the colloquy between his legal advisor and the district judge which transpired at a post-conviction hearing. The material part is set forth below.9

[50] There is simply no showing whatsoever on this record that Kimmel was made expressly aware by anyone of the risks and consequences of self-representation in this case. Nor would further inquiry into the defendant's general "background, experience, and conduct" illuminate this point. The failure of the district court to provide the necessary warning cannot be rectified by such an inquiry. The validity of Kimmel's waiver of counsel must be measured by his specific knowledge of the risks and consequences of self-representation, based on the specific information provided to him prior to the time he "waived" his constitutional rights; it may not be inferred from his general experience or education. Despite this rule, the majority remands the case to allow the district court to provide "further details" of Kimmel's background, experience, and conduct. Assuming that the district court does supplement the record with the details suggested, we will still be required to reverse the conviction and remand for a new trial.

[51] The only concrete background information which the majority suggests may be useful in determining the validity of Kimmel's waiver is what he may have been told in an earlier state court proceeding in which he allegedly represented himself. Kimmel's record of involvement with the courts has been supplied to us by the district judge as part of the post-trial bail reduction proceedingsPage 731he conducted at our request. The record reflects that (a) Kimmel was charged in several state court prosecutions with growing or cultivating marijuana; (b) the most recent prosecution occurred five years prior to his trial in this case; (c) the most serious punishment imposed in any of the state court proceedings against Kimmel was probation; and (d) Kimmel was represented by counsel on each occasion.10Thus, from the record furnished us by the district court it appears that Kimmel did not previously represent himself and that there was therefore no occasion in the past for any court to advise him of the risks of self-representation.11Moreover, even had Kimmel been so advised in some manner in an earlier state court proceeding, that would be of little significance here. In the case before us, Kimmel was tried and convicted of the federal offenses of conspiring to distribute and distributing LSD and has been sentenced to ten years in prison. The risks of self-representation to Kimmel in the case before us were substantially greater than the risks present in any of the marijuana related state proceedings against Kimmel. Information given to Kimmel in the state proceedings,if any,cannot serve to establish that he was made aware of the nature of the federal charges against him, the consequences of a conviction on those charges, and the risks of self-representation in a case as serious as the one before us.

[52]Conclusion

[53] I stated earlier that the time has come for us to adoptformallya rule 1) requiring the district court to advise the defendant of the risks of self-representation, the nature of the charges, and the consequences of conviction before accepting the defendant's waiver of counsel, and 2) that the failure of the district court to do so requires reversal. As of now, and notwithstanding the majority's remand in this case, such is thede factorule in this circuit.

[54] Despite our previous warnings, district courts continue to accept waivers of counsel without expressly advising the defendant of the risks and consequences of their proposed action or otherwise attempting to determine on the record if the defendant has made a knowing and intelligent waiver of that right. I believe that a net savings of judicial resources would result if we were to adopt the course I recommend. Our formal adoption of such a rule would encourage district courts to do that which they are already in fact required to do, and would save this court from the task of searching the record below for that which cannot be found: evidence that the defendant was advised of the risks involved and made a knowing and intelligent waiver of the right to counsel.

[55] Although we have not yet adopted the rule set forth above, I believe that under the current state of the law we are required to reverse and remand for a new trial, for the following reasons:
1) As the majority agrees, the record fails to establish a "knowing and intelligent" waiver of the right to counsel.
2) We have reversed rather than remanded for additional evidence in all similar cases. Precedent dictates the use of that procedure here.
3) We do not permitpost factodeterminations as to whether a waiver of the right to counsel was "knowing and intelligent."
4) Where the record fails to show that the defendant was expressly made aware of the risks and consequences of his waiver, background information regarding general knowledge or experience cannot establish that the waiver was effective.


[56] Accordingly, I respectfully dissent from the majority's decision to order only a limited remand in this case. I believe that we are required to reverse the conviction and remand for a new trial.Page 732
ON REMAND
PER CURIAM:

We remanded this case for the limited purpose of allowing the district court to supplement the record on whether Kimmel made a knowing and intelligent waiver of his right to be represented by counsel at trial.United States v. Kimmel,672 F.2d 720(9th Cir. 1982). The record as it then stood did not support a finding of an adequate waiver.

On remand, the district court conducted a hearing at which the Government volunteered to make an offer of proof showing a knowing and intelligent waiver. Subsequently, however, the Government decided not to pursue the matter. The court thus concluded the remand proceedings without adding any relevant evidence to the record.

We therefore reverse the convictions and remand for a new trial.
  1. The Honorable Byron G. Skelton, Senior Judge, United States Court of Claims, sitting by designation. ↩
  2. Courts have been inconsistent in their description of a valid waiver of counsel. I have used the term "knowing and intelligent waiver." InFaretta v. California,422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975), the Court uses the terms "knowingly and intelligently" and "competently and intelligently" interchangeably. We have done the same, sometimes using one, sometimes the other, and sometimes both in the same opinion.SeeUnited States v. Bird,621 F.2d 989(9th Cir. 1980) ("knowingly and intelligently");United States v. Crowhurst,596 F.2d 389(9th Cir. 1979) (knowingly, competently and intelligently);United States v. Aponte,591 F.2d 1247(9th Cir. 1978) ("knowingly and intelligently" and "competently and intelligently");United States v. Gillings,568 F.2d 1307(9th Cir. 1978) ("knowing and intelligent");United States v.Dujanovic,486 F.2d 182(9th Cir. 1973) ("competently and intelligently" and "competently, voluntarily, and intelligently"). ↩
  3. The parties have pointed to only one instance in the record in which the court addressed the defendant regarding his decision to waive his right to counsel:
    MR. BRONSON (COURT APPOINTED ADVISOR TO THE DEFENDANT):
    Yes, Your Honor, and for the record, Gordon Bronson as his court appointed advisor in this matter.
    THE COURT: Mr. Kimmel, are you familiar with the role of an advisor?
    DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
    THE COURT: You're representing yourself.
    DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
    THE COURT: And you understand Mr. Bronson is just there to be a resource?
    DEFENDANT: Uh-huh. Functioning with the assistance.
    THE COURT: Sort of like a walking law book.
    DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.
    ↩
  4. If the majority's unsupported statement that the limited remand procedure is a "prudential device which until recently has been used quite sparingly in this circuit" is intended to imply that the use of limited remands in this circuit is a recent phenomenon, or that there has been some recent change in our practice, the majority's statement is contrary to the facts.See, e.g., Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Kellogg,119 F.2d 115, 118 (9th Cir. 1941);Lorber v. Vista IrrigationDistrict,127 F.2d 628, 639 (9th Cir. 1942);WillapointOysters, Inc. v. Ewing,174 F.2d 676, 680 (9th Cir. 1949);Union Stock Farms v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue,265 F.2d 712, 728 (9th Cir. 1959).See generally Ford Motor Co. v. NLRB,305 U.S. 364, 373, 59 S.Ct. 301, 307, 83 L.Ed.2d 221 (1938) ("It is familiar appellate practice to remand causes for further proceedings . . . where justice demands that course in order that some defect in the record may be supplied.")

    However, if by a "prudential device which until recently has been used quite sparingly in this circuit" the majority is referring to an evidentiary remand under circumstances similar to those present in this case, the majority contradicts itself. The majority earlier states that "[t]his case is the first in which we have used a limited remand to supplement a record which does not show a knowing and intelligent waiver." The previous use of an evidentiary remand in this circuit for such a purpose has been sparing indeed — it has been non-existent, as the majority points out. In fact, the only case in which the majority suggests a limited remand procedure has been used under comparable circumstances is an isolated case from the Second Circuit which was explicitly based on exceptional circumstances.Tompkins v.United States,623 F.2d 824(2d Cir. 1980). In that case the court did not purport to adopt a "new prudential device," but rather, admitted that it was making an exception to its normal, well established procedure because of the unique circumstances presented. No such circumstances are present here. ↩
  5. In bothDavisandRhinehart,the defendants weredenied the right to self-representationand were therefore represented by counsel at trial, while in this case Kimmel claims that he did not knowingly and intelligently waive his right to counsel. The majority fails to note this important distinction in its reliance onDavis.Courts indulge in every in every reasonable presumption against waiver of the right to counsel,Johnson v. Zerbest,304 U.S. 458, 465, 58 S.Ct. 1019, 1023, 82 L.Ed. 1461 (1938), although the right to self-representation may be waived by the mere failure to assert it,Brown v.Wainwright,665 F.2d 607(5th Cir. 1982). It is therefore highly inappropriate to adopt a procedure from a context in which a right is waived unless asserted, and apply it to a right which is preserved unless waived. Rather than "mdulge in every reasonablepresumption against waiver," the majority adopts a procedure which, when applied in this context, can only operate toinfer awaiverfrom the defendant's background, experience, and conduct. ↩
  6. The district court did determine that Kimmel had some understanding of the limited role of a legal advisor. That, however, falls far short of the required showing. ↩
  7. The determination of whether the defendant was made aware of those risks and consequences may be made from the record as a whole.United States v. Bird,621 F.2d 989(9th Cir. 1980);United States v. Aponte,591 F.2d 1247(9th Cir. 1978);Cooleyv. United States,501 F.2d 1249(9th Cir. 1974),cert. denied,419 U.S. 1123, 95 S.Ct. 809, 42 L.Ed.2d 824 (1975). ↩
  8. InUnited States v. Gillings,568 F.2d 1307(9th Cir. 1978), we stated "[w]e apply theFarettastandard here." Faretta requires that the defendant "be made aware of the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation." 422 U.S. at 835, 95 S.Ct. at 2541. While in ourper curiamopinion inGillingswe did not set forth specifically what the district judge told the defendant nor what inquiry the judge made of the defendant, we said that the court approved the waiver "after an extended discussion in which the [defendant] played a major part and after having [him] consult [his] attorney one last time." 568 F.2d at 1309. I assume that the panel was satisfied from the record inGillingsthat the defendant had in fact been made aware of the risks and consequences of his action. ↩
  9. We must, of course, also be concerned with whether a defendant who is expressly made aware of "the risks and consequences" of his action is capable of comprehending and evaluating those facts. ↩
  10. THE COURT: It's just that Mr. Kimmel is in my opinion a rather strange gentleman.
    MR. BRONSON: Yes. Thank you, Your Honor, for that ____
    THE COURT: Yes.
    MR. BRONSON: He's still trying ____
    THE COURT: I tried the case and I know him very well.
    MR. BRONSON: He's still — my last contact he was still trying to contact the Shah of Iran, and he does not believe the Shah is dead. So, that's kind of where we are.
    THE COURT: Yeah. Well, I think that we have to move rather carefully in this fieldbecause he does haveproblems in that area,but that doesn't mean he might not be entitled to a reduction of bail . . .
    I haven't seen him recently, but, of course, as you recall, it's shocking what he looks like at his age. How old is he?
    MR. BRONSON: He's in his thirties or midthirties, Your Honor.
    THE COURT: Yeah. He looks like he's ____
    MR. BRONSON: . . . in his sixties.
    THE COURT: ____ in his eighties or something. Maybe his health has improved since he has been kept away from the drugs that were part of his religion, as I recall.
    ↩
  11. There were no records available concerning one of the charges listed in Kimmel's prior record of offenses supplied by the district court — a 1973 marijuana charge. The record does not reflect, therefore, whether Kimmel was ever brought to trial on that charge or whether he was represented by counsel if he did stand trial. ↩
  12. Kimmel remarked to the district court in this case that he had represented himself in some proceeding three years earlier. The majority apparently infers from this statement that Kimmel had previously defended himself in a criminal trial. However, the record before this court does not reflect that Kimmel was involved in any criminal proceeding three years before his trial in federal court, nor that he represented himself in any prior criminal trial. ↩