Dylann Roof will defend himself in court and could cross-examine survivors and family members of the Emanuel 9.
Judge Gergel warned Roof that it would be in his best interest to have legal representation, but approved the request and resumed jury selection.
Currently, Roof faces 33 federal offenses, including hate crime charges based on the allegation that he purposely targeted members of Emanuel based on their race and religion.
Dylann Roof's lawyer, Sarah Gannett, said the charges are "extremely grave" and "under the Constitution they are not properly charged."
Roof attended Tuesday's hearing sitting "impassively" in front of the victims' families, journalists and spectators, the Times reports. He faces 33 counts, including hate crimes.
Out of the 33 federal charges against Roof, the accusation that he violated the prayer group's right to freely practice religion will weigh heavy when considering the death penalty.
Dylann Roof has been charged with 33 federal hate crime and firearms charges for the shooting. The case is expected to go to trial July 11.
The Rev. Dr. Betty Deas Clark has been appointed the first female pastor at historic Emanuel AME Church.
Among the honorees were Misty Copeland, Caitlyn Jenner, the U.S women's soccer team, family members and survivors of the Charleston Massacre, Reese Witherspoon, Victoria Beckham, Elizabeth Holmes and Cecile Richards.
A judge has delayed the trial of Dylann Roof, the 21-year-old accused of killing nine Black members of Charleston’s Mother Emanuel AME Church in a race-inspired shooting…
A friend of Dylann Roof, the gunman who killed nine African-Americans at the Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, South Carolina in June, has been arrested…
The suspected gunman who killed two journalists Wednesday morning may have been motivated by the Charleston AME shooting.
