Mr. James pleaded guilty to the first-degree murders of Betty Dick and her 8-year-old granddaughter, Toni Neuner, who were killed in 1993. The jury recommended death sentences and he was condemned. This Court upheld the sentences on direct appeal and Mr. James filed a post-conviction challenge in trial court. He later dropped the appeal. However, two years later he changed his mind and asked the trial court to re-appoint his state-paid lawyers so that he could resume his legal challenge to his death sentences. The trial court denied Mr. James' request to re-appoint his lawyer and Mr. James appealed to this Court. A lawyer was appointed to represent Mr. James in this appeal.