Indiana v. Edwards

A plain-English summary from Criminal Defense Resources™, a free resource for pro per/pro se defendants and their families.

General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. This page describes what a court decided in general terms. It does not tell you what to do in any case.

Court: U.S. Supreme Court
Decided: June 19, 2008
Citation: 554 U.S. 164 (2008)
Topics: Self-Representation & Right to Counsel (Faretta)

What did the court decide?

The Court held that a state may require a lawyer for a defendant who is competent to stand trial but who, because of severe mental illness, is not competent to conduct the trial on his or her own.

Why does it matter?

The right to self-representation has limits. Being competent to stand trial is not always the same as being able to run your own defense.

Where can I read the full opinion?

Read the full opinion on Cornell Law School LII →

Always read the full opinion and check whether later cases have limited or changed it. A summary can leave out important details.

Related rulings

McCoy v. Louisiana (U.S. Supreme Court, 2018)
United States v. Erskine (9th Circuit, 2004)
Martinez v. Court of Appeal of California, Fourth Appellate District (U.S. Supreme Court, 2000)
McKaskle v. Wiggins (U.S. Supreme Court, 1984)

General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm.