Judge rules Lori Vallow Daybell can represent herself in Arizona trials

PHOENIX — Lori Vallow Daybell will be allowed to represent herself in two Arizona criminal trials, a judge ruled Friday morning.

Judge Justin Beresky asked Daybell multiple questions during a 15-minute hearing about whether she understands the legal system (yes), her level of education (high school graduate), whether she understands English (yes), and why she wants to act as her own attorney.

“For the past five years that I have been incarcerated, I have taken it upon myself to study case law and criminal rules of procedure in the state of Idaho and Arizona as well as federally,” Daybell said. “For the past 10 years, prior to my incarceration, I did study procedure in family law, and I have real trial experience. I have participated in three different full trials from beginning to end. One in family court, two in criminal court.”

Daybell faces two charges of conspiracy to commit murder in connection to her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, and her former nephew-in-law, Brandon Boudreaux.

During a hearing Thursday, Daybell was ruled competent to stand trial in both cases. Trials will be held separately, Beresky said Friday, and two advisory attorneys – Pamela Hicks and Robert Abernethy – will be appointed to assist Daybell in her defense.

She told the judge she was “very prepared” for the trials, even after Beresky told Daybell the cases could be complicated with lots of potential evidence.

“I am well aware of that,” Daybell responded.

Daybell will prepare motions, give an opening statement, question witnesses and could take the stand. Beresky said if she decides to testify, she will need to write out prepared questions and have her advisory attorneys ask them to her.

If Daybell does not behave in court, fails to show up or changes her mind about representing herself, the advisory attorneys would take over as lead counsel. If that happens, the trial will continue and not start over.

Beresky scheduled the trial in the Charles Vallow case to begin on March 31. The Boudreaux trial will be scheduled after the Vallow trial is complete.

Daybell’s next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 10.

Daybell was sentenced to life in prison in Idaho last year for the murders of her two youngest children, Joshua “JJ” Vallow and Tylee Ryan, along with her fifth husband’s former wife, Tammy Daybell.

Watch the Friday hearing in the video player above.

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