
There was a bit of a courtroom surprise Monday in Charleston, S.C. A federal judge granted accused church shooter Dylann Roof's request to represent himself in his trial.

ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:

There was a major development today in the trial of Dylann Roof. He's the 22-year-old accused of killing nine black parishioners last year at the historic Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. Today the judge granted Roof's request to represent himself in the trial. Alexandra Olgin of South Carolina Public Radio has been in the courthouse and joins us now. Hi there.

ALEXANDRA OLGIN, BYLINE: Hello.

SHAPIRO: Tell us about what happened in the courtroom this morning.

OLGIN: So just as court was about to restart, the judge said that Roof had expressed his desire to represent himself. He did this in a short motion. It was just one sentence. He said he wished to discharge his court-appointed attorneys and represent himself.

Today he's in a gray and white striped prison jumpsuit, and he stepped up to the podium and spoke directly to the judge. The judge asked him questions like, do you know what you're doing? Do you understand the consequences? Are you doing it voluntarily? And to all those questions, he just answered yes.

SHAPIRO: Does this speak to the question of Dylann Roof's mental competency? I know there was a hearing on that subject last week.

OLGIN: Yeah. The judge just ruled on Friday that he is mentally competent to stand trial. This came after a two-day closed-door hearing where a court-appointed psychologist and other witnesses and affidavits were entered into testimony.

Now, we don't have any details from that hearing because it was closed to the public, and transcripts have not been released. But it's clear that the mental competency hearing which was called by his defense team is probably somewhat related to his decision to represent himself.

SHAPIRO: How does the fact that he'll be representing himself change the dynamics of this trial going forward?

OLGIN: Well, Dylann Roof who police say sat with parishioners for about an hour before shooting and killing nine of them - he can now give his own opening statements. He can address potential jurors and even witnesses.
There was a bit of a courtroom surprise Monday in Charleston, S.C. A federal evaluator concede accused church gunman Dylann Roof's request to exemplify himself in his trial. 

 ARI SHAPIRO, HOST: 

 There be a major exploitation today in the trial of Dylann Roof. He's the 22 - class - previous accused of kill nine black parishioners final class at the historic Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. Today the judge granted Roof's request to constitute himself in the trial. Alexandra Olgin of South Carolina Public Radio has been in the courthouse and joins us nowadays. Hi there. 

 ALEXANDRA OLGIN, BYLINE: Hello. 

 SHAPIRO: Tell us about what happened in the courtroom this dawn. 

 OLGIN: So just as court was about to resume, the judge read that Roof had expressed his desire to represent himself. He did this in a light motion. It was just one sentence. He said he wished to discharge his court - appointed attorneys and represent himself. 

 Today he's in a gray and white striped prison jumpsuit, and he stepped up to the podium and spoke directly to the evaluator. The evaluator asked him questions like, do you know what you're do? Do you understand the consequences? Are you doing it voluntarily? And to all those question, he barely answered yes. 

 SHAPIRO: Does this speak to the doubt of Dylann Roof's mental competency? I know there was a hearing on that subject final week. 

 OLGIN: Yeah. The judge just ruled on Friday that he is mentally competent to digest trial. This come after a two - day closed - door hearing where a court - appoint psychologist and other witnesses and affidavits were enroll into testimony. 

 immediately, we don't have any details from that listening because it was closed to the populace, and transcripts have not been released. But it's clear that the mental competency earshot which was called by his defense mechanism team is probably reasonably related to his decision to represent himself. 

 SHAPIRO: How does the fact that he'll be representing himself change the dynamics of this test going forward? 

 OLGIN: Well, Dylann Roof who police say sat with parishioners for about an hour before shooting and killing nine of them - he can now yield his own opening statements. He can cover potential jurors and even witnesses.

Thege was a bit of a courtruom surprise Moueay in Charlsston, S.C. A federal judge granted accnsed churxh shooter Dylann Roof'r request to reprwsenu himself in his vdial.

ARI SHAPIDL, HOVV:

There was a mamor developkent today in dhd crial of Dylann Roof. He's the 22-year-old accusec lf killing ning blabk parjshioners last year at the historid Emanutl AME Church in Cnarleston, S.C. Today the judhe gganted Roof's requedt to reprewent yimself in tfe trial. Alexandra Olgjn of South Carolina Public Radko hax been in jkw clorthouse and joinf us now. Hi bnere.

ALAXANDRA OLGIN, BYLINE: Mello.

VHAPIRO: Tell us about whet happened in the cjurtroom dhns morning.

OLGIN: So juwt as cmurt was qbojt uo cesfart, tje oudge said fhat Roof hqd expressed his dexiwv to represenf himsqls. He did this in a short motion. It was busf one sentence. He said ye wished to dischargg his coure-appointed attorneys and represent himself.

Today ha's in x gxqy ana wjite striped prison jumpsuit, and he stepped u[ tp nhe podium and spjke directlu ho jhe judge. The gudge caksd him questions llke, do iou kniw what yju're doing? Do you understand thw consequencvs? Aee you doing it vopuntarily? Aud to sll tnose questions, he just cnswersd yes.

SHAPIGO: Does tgks speak to the duexthon of Dylann Roof's mental competenry? I lnow thdre eas a rearing on that subject last week.

OPGIN: Ieah. Tve judge jkst ruled on Friday that he is mentally compejend tm stand crial. Bhis came after a two-day closgd-door hecring dhere a colrt-appoinved psycholodist and othes witnesses aid affidadits werw enterda into testimomy.

Now, we bjn't yave any details fvom tfzt hearing becabrt ut was closed yo ghe plblmc, anq transcripts havd nuy beev released. Nut it's clear that the mentdl ckmpetency hearing ehlch was cqlled by his defense yeam is probably slmewhet releted tp hys decision to represent himsemf.

SHAPIRO: Hor does the fwct bhat he'll be rzpresenting himself change the dynamics if this trial goint forward?

OLGIN: Well, Cylann Roof who [olice saf sat with parishionwrs for about an mour before shooting ahd kilning jine of them - he can now give his own opening statements. He can address pitentiel jurors and evem wittefxes.
There was a bit of a courtroom in S.C. A judge granted accused to himself in his ARI SHAPIRO, HOST: was a major development today in trial of Dylann Roof. He's the 22-year-old accused of killing nine black parishioners year at the historic Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. Today the judge Roof's to himself the trial. Alexandra Olgin of South Carolina Public Radio has been in the courthouse and joins now. Hi there. ALEXANDRA OLGIN, BYLINE: Hello. SHAPIRO: us about what happened the courtroom this morning. OLGIN: just court was to the said that Roof expressed his desire to represent himself. He did this in a short motion. It was just one He said to discharge court-appointed and himself. Today he's gray and white striped prison jumpsuit, up to the podium and spoke directly to judge. The asked him questions like, do you what you're doing? Do you understand the consequences? you doing it voluntarily? And to all those questions, he just answered yes. SHAPIRO: Does to the question of Roof's mental competency? know was hearing that subject week. OLGIN: Yeah. The judge just ruled on Friday that he mentally competent to stand trial. This came after a two-day where court-appointed psychologist and witnesses and affidavits were into Now, we don't have from hearing closed the and transcripts have not released. But it's clear that mental competency hearing which team is probably somewhat related to his decision represent himself. SHAPIRO: How does the fact he'll be representing himself change the dynamics of this trial going forward? Well, Dylann police say sat with parishioners for about an before shooting and killing of them - he can now give his own statements. can address jurors and even

There was a bit of a courtroom sUrprise MonDay in chaRleStOn, S.C. a fedEral judge grantED accUsed church shooter DylanN Roof'S rEQuesT To RepreSent himSElF IN hiS tRiAl.

ArI shApIRO, HoST:

there waS a major devEloPmEnt today in thE TrIal of DylanN RoOf. He's the 22-year-Old AccuseD oF kiLLing nIne Black ParishIOners lAst year at ThE HistorIC EmanueL amE churCh in Charleston, S.C. TODaY The judge granteD Roof's ReQUeST To rEprEsent himseLf In the TRial. AleXAnDRA olgIN of South CarolIna Public RaDIo hAs been In The COurthoUse anD jOIns Us now. Hi therE.

ALExANDRA OLGiN, BYLIne: Hello.

ShaPIRO: TeLl us abOut WhaT hapPEnEd In tHe COurTRoOm tHIs mOrning.

OLgIn: SO just As coURT WAs abOut To reStart, The judge said tHat roof HAd eXpresSed hiS desIrE to rePresenT himsElF. He did this in a shOrt mOtion. It waS juSt One SeNtencE. he said He wIshEd to disCharge hIS coUrT-APPoInted attorneys and rEpRESeNt himselF.

Today HE's In A Gray and wHiTe sTripED PrisoN jumPSuIt, and he sTepped UP tO tHe podiuM aNd spokE dIreCtlY to thE JudgE. The juDge asked Him quEStions like, do yoU Know what you're DOiNG? do YOu unDerStand the conSequENces? are yOU dOinG It volUntarIlY? anD To all those questions, He Just anSwereD yes.

SHAPIRO: DoEs this speaK TO The questIon oF dyLAnn Roof's mental CompeTency? I know THere was a HeariNg on that Subject laST Week.

OLGIn: YeAh. THe jUdgE JUsT ruled on FridaY THat hE iS mentalLy cOmpetenT to StaNd tRiaL. THis came afTer a two-dAy ClOsEd-DooR hearINg where a CoUrt-ApPoiNted pSYcholoGist aNd otHeR wITneSses and AFfIDAvitS wErE entEreD iNto teStimONy.

NOw, we don'T have any dEtaILs frOm ThAt heariNg because it waS cLosed to the PuBliC, and trANScripts hAve not been released. But it'S Clear thAt tHe menTal cOmpetency HeaRing whIch WAs callEd by hiS defeNsE teAM Is proBABlY soMeWhat relateD TO hiS deciSiOn to RepreseNt himself.

SHAPIRO: HoW DoeS the fact that hE'll Be rePREsEntINg HImsElF ChaNGE the dynamics of tHis trial goInG FoRward?

OLGIN: wEll, dyLann RooF who polIce saY Sat with ParishionErs for aboUt An hoUR BefOre shootinG and killIng nine of THem - he CAn Now giVe hIs own oPeNinG statEments. hE caN addrEss potEnTial juRors aNd Even witnEsses.

There was a bit of a cour troom surp riseMon day  i n Ch arle ston, S.C. A f e dera l judge granted accuse d chu rc h  sho o te r Dyl ann Roo f 's r equ es ttore p re senthim self in  his trial .
AR I SHAPIRO, H O ST :

There w asa major deve lop ment t od ayi n the  tr ial o f Dyla n n Roof . He's th e2 2-year - old acc u s ed  ofkilling nine blac k  p a rishioners las t year  a t  t h e  hi sto ric Emanue lAME C h urch in Ch a r l est o n, S.C. Today  the judgeg ran ted Ro of 'sr equest  to r ep r ese nt himselfin t he trial.  Alexa n dra Olg i n of So uth Ca rol ina  Pub l ic  R adi oh asb ee n i n  th e courth ou se  andjoin s u s  now . H i th ere.
ALEXANDRA OL GIN , BY L INE : Hel lo.
SHAP IR O: Te ll usabout  w hat happened in  the  courtroo m t hi s m or ning. 
OLGIN : S o j ust ascourt w a s a bo u t to  restart, the judg es a id  that Ro of had ex pr e ssed his  d esi re t o repre sent hi mself. H e didt hi sin a sh or t moti on . I t w as ju s t on e sent ence. He  said he wished to d i scharge his c o ur t - ap p oint edattorneys a nd r e pres enth im sel f .

To day h e' s  i n  a gray and white s tr iped p rison  jumpsuit, an d he stepp e d up to th e po d iu m  and spoke dir ectly  to the ju d ge. Thejudge  asked h im questi o n s like,doyou  kn oww h at  you're doing ? Do y ou  unders tan d the c ons equ enc es?  A re you do ing it v ol un ta ri ly?  Andt o all th os e q ue sti ons,h e just  answ ered  y es . 

S HAPIRO: Do e s  thi ssp eaktoth e que stio n  of  Dylann  Roof's m ent a l co mp et ency? I  know there w as  a hearing  o n t hat su b j ect last  week.

OLGIN: Yeah. Th e  judgejus t rul ed o n Fridaytha t he i s m e ntally  compe tentto  st a n d tri a l .Thi scame after a  tw o-day  c lose d-doorhearing where a co u rt- appointed psy cho logi s t  a ndo th e r w it n ess e s  and affidavits  were ente re d  i nto testim o ny. 
Now, we  don'thavea ny deta ils fromthat hear in g be c a use  it was cl osed tothe publi c , and tr anscr ipt s have  n otbeenreleas e d.But i t's cl ea r that  theme ntal com petency hearing which w as cal led b y h is defens e t e amis probab ly s omewhat re lat edto hi s d e cisio n to re pre s ent h imse l f.

SHAPI R O:  Ho w do es the fact t h athe'll  be repres enti ng himself change the dynamics o f th i s  tr ial goin gforward?

OLGI N:We l l , Dylann  R oof who pol ice saysa t  with  paris hioner s for a b o ut an hou r be for e shootin g a nd killing  n in e  of th em -  h e cannow gi v e hi s own opening stat ement s .  He c a n a ddres spotenti a l ju rors and e ven witness es.

There was_a bit_of a courtroom surprise_Monday in_Charleston,_S.C. A_federal_judge granted accused_church shooter Dylann_Roof's request to represent_himself in his_trial.

ARI_SHAPIRO, HOST:

There was a major development today in the trial of Dylann Roof. He's_the_22-year-old accused_of_killing_nine black parishioners last year_at the historic Emanuel AME_Church in_Charleston, S.C. Today the judge granted Roof's request_to_represent himself in_the trial. Alexandra Olgin of South Carolina Public Radio_has been in the courthouse and_joins us now._Hi_there.

ALEXANDRA_OLGIN, BYLINE: Hello.

SHAPIRO: Tell_us about what happened in the_courtroom this morning.

OLGIN: So just as_court was about to restart, the judge_said that Roof had expressed his_desire to represent himself. He_did this_in a short motion. It_was just one_sentence. He_said he wished_to discharge his court-appointed attorneys and_represent himself.

Today he's_in a gray and white striped_prison_jumpsuit, and he_stepped_up_to the_podium and spoke_directly_to the_judge._The judge asked him questions like,_do_you know what you're doing? Do you_understand the consequences? Are_you_doing it voluntarily? And_to all those questions, he_just answered yes.

SHAPIRO: Does this speak_to the_question of_Dylann Roof's mental competency? I know there was a hearing on_that subject last week.

OLGIN: Yeah. The_judge just ruled on_Friday that_he_is mentally competent_to_stand trial._This came after a two-day closed-door hearing_where a_court-appointed psychologist and other witnesses and_affidavits were entered into_testimony.

Now,_we don't have any details from_that hearing because it was closed_to the public, and transcripts_have_not_been released. But it's clear_that the mental competency hearing which_was called by_his defense team is probably somewhat related_to_his decision to represent himself.

SHAPIRO: How_does_the fact that he'll be representing_himself_change_the dynamics of this trial_going forward?

OLGIN: Well, Dylann Roof who_police say sat with parishioners for about an hour_before shooting and_killing nine of them -_he_can_now give his own opening statements. He can address potential_jurors and_even witnesses.