Panel presses whether compressed schedule changed pro se analysis

The panel repeatedly asked how to reconcile a defendant's right to a speedy resolution with a late request to proceed pro se. A panel member observed that "the closer you get to trial, the more discretion the court has," pressing counsel to explain what specific factors trial courts should weigh when a request arises just before jury selection.

Defense counsel stressed that the timeline in this case (arrest Oct. 31; hearings Jan. 2 and Jan. 3; trial Jan. 6) compressed opportunities to assert the right and that earlier, unresolved requests pushed the matter closer to trial. The state responded that courts routinely consider timeliness and the practical impacts of last-minute changes on trial logistics, and both sides cited precedent (Madsen, Curry) as guidance.