Why Representing Yourself in Criminal Court Is a Terrible Idea (And Ryan Wesley Routh Just Proved It)

Every criminal defense lawyer has had the conversation: a client says, “Maybe I don’t need a lawyer. I’ll just handle this myself.” It sounds bold, thrifty, and empowering… right up until reality slams down like a gavel.

Case in point? Ryan Wesley Routh.

A Wild Court Filing

Routh is facing federal charges for allegedly attempting to assassinate then-former-President and then-Republican-Party-presidential-candidate Donald Trump on or about September 15, 2024. Instead of turning to experienced counsel, Routh has elected to represent himself. The results were, frankly, bizarre.

In a motion to styled as “Motion to Exclude Prosecution’s Latest Evidence,” Mr. Routh challenged now-President Trump to a round of golf – in the context of replacing the criminal trial proceedings commencing against Routh shortly where execution is a possible legally-authorized sentence - with the following proposal:

“A [sic] of golf with the racist pig, he wins he can execute me, I win I get his job.”

Yes, you read that correctly. That’s not a strategy, it’s a spectacle. Routh’s filing also included snipes at prosecutors and public officials, like “sorry [sic] hillbilly Vance.” Needless to say, that language that might fly on a late-night message board, but in real court it’s a flashing neon sign that the defendant doesn’t understand the rules and/or doesn’t respect the Court. But wait, there’s more: in the same one-page court filing, Routh  proposed that the case be settled by “a beat down session” and requests “female strippers” as materials to aid in trial preparation.

The Right to Self-Representation (And Why It’s a Trap)

As recognized by the United States Supreme Court in Faretta v. California, defendants facing criminal charges have the right to waive counsel and represent themselves in most circumstances. While judges usually allow it, most including Judge Aileen Cannon in Routh’s case strenuously warn against it.

Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. A few reasons this is a generally a terrible idea include:

• Procedural minefields: Criminal law is riddled with deadlines, evidentiary rules, and constitutional traps. Miss one, and your case may be sunk.

• Emotional distance: Skilled lawyers (should) know when to argue forcefully and when to stay quiet. Defendants representing themselves often just don’t. Emotional outbursts, lashing out, and the like often play terribly in front of judges and juries.

·       Strategic blindness: A defense attorney can negotiate deals, move to suppress evidence, and challenge witnesses via mechanisms allowed by the rules of evidence. Pro se defendants sometimes miss strategic considerations or focus on theories better suited for internet forums than real courtrooms.

• Risk of disaster: One outburst, one poorly drafted motion, and you’ve essentially gift-wrapped the prosecution’s closing argument.

As one Florida defense firm bluntly put it: “Just because you have the right to represent yourself doesn’t mean you have the ability”.

Why Routh’s Cautionary Tale Matters

Most people aren’t facing charges as extreme as Routh’s, but his is a cautionary tale. Derailing one’s own defense with outlandish filings, arguments, or courtroom conduct is possible for those  facing a DUI, drug case, or theft charge without legal training just as surely as it has impacted Routh.

Please hear me when I tell you: real court is not the movies. Pro se defendants generally don’t have the benefit of screenwriters, and real judges generally don’t smile and applaud legally irrelevant, untimely, or fiery but improper speeches. They’ll more likely start talking about “criminal contempt of court,” have you excused from the courtroom while the trial continues, or at a minimum start calculating your probably-getting-longer-the-more-spectacle-you-put-on sentence.

The Bottom Line

Representing yourself in criminal court is a bit like performing your own root canal — technically possible, but it is almost guaranteed to end in pain. Ryan Wesley Routh’s “golf match for execution rights” filing is just the latest Exhibit A.

If you’re facing charges in Coastal Georgia, don’t gamble with your freedom. Call a lawyer who knows the ropes, the judges, and the law. In real courtrooms, winning your case requires strategy, not just spectacular missteps.