Tom Goldstein has argued before the US Supreme Court many times, but he won’t be allowed to act as his own lawyer in defending against tax fraud charges.
Hybrid representation isn’t appropriate for the trial or for purposes of resolving pretrial motions, Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby said following argument Tuesday morning.
Goldstein is a skilled appellate lawyer, but that’s not the kind of “special need” that might justify allowing him to represent himself when he has retained counsel, she said. He’s represented by “three excellent attorneys” with whom he appears to be satisfied.
Defendants have a right to counsel, and ...