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Name: Baker City of Blaine
Opinion Date: 08/09/2000
Court: US Court of Appeals
District 9 Cir
Citation: 221 Fed.3d 1108
Summary

There was no violation of the Sixth Amendment right to counsel where appellant waived his right to counsel and represented himself at a jury trial on a charge of driving under the influence. Because appellant had previously been convicted of drunk driving, it can be assumed that he knew he was entitled to appointed counsel if he qualified financially. Therefore, his waiver of the right to counsel was knowing and intelligent. J. Canby dissented, noting that the waiver was not knowing and intelligent. Baker made it clear that he would represent himself because he had no funds to hire counsel. Since the right to appointed counsel was never adequately explained, reversal was required.