The trial scheduled for 20-year-old Chris Diaz, which was scheduled to begin this week, was postponed on Monday after Diaz fired his court-appointed attorney Fred Franklin according to district clerk officials. Jury selection began on Monday for the trial, but prospective jurors were dismissed in the middle of the day after this development.
Judge Stephen Ellis granted the request by Diaz who will now be representing himself in the case. The trial was rescheduled for January 18, 2011.
Diaz was indicted in July for the felony charge of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper arrested Diaz on June 27 in Brown County. Prosecutors claimed in a previous hearing that Diaz was in possession of 14 grams of THC or “hash” (a more potent form of marijuana) when he was stopped. Supporters of Diaz have explained that the marijuana was in his possession due to a prescription from California and is used as medication for relief from asthma.
Diaz was released from the Brown County Jail on Sept. 15 after posting bond.
