The Kaczynski Show

SACRAMENTO: With Theodore Kaczynski renewing his demand to fire his defense, Judge Garland Burrell, Jr. finds himself in a legal tight spot: The Sixth Amendment guarantees a defendant the right to counsel of his choice; Kaczynski is clearly not happy with his current team. Yet some experts say that in this instance, a death penalty case with a year of trial preparation behind it, Burrell would be justified in ruling that a change in attorneys at this point would be too disruptive.

Of course, consider how much disruption Kaczynski himself could muster. "I think he knows exactly what he's doing, and he plans to create chaos," said former Sacramento U.S. Attorney Don Heller of the Unabomber suspects cryptic mention of a "statement" Monday. As a defendant represented by attorneys, Kaczynski would not be allowed to simply speak to the jury. As his own lawyer? Opening statements could quickly turn into the Ted Kaczynski Show. Burrell dismissed the jury yesterday for at least two days.