In a penalty case, in what circumstances was the trial court's opinion that defense counsel had done a great job preparing the penalty phase?

California, United States of America

The following excerpt is from People v. Williams, S030553 (Cal. 2013):

That said, we also conclude the trial court's opinions were not inaccurate. They were observations, based on defense counsel's representations, that were certainly true in a general sense: counsel did know about the case and he was willing and able to prepare the penalty phase. Defendant also contends that the trial court's description of defense counsel as having done "a great job" was misleading. But, once again, the trial court's statement was a general description based on its own observations. In People v. Jenkins, supra, 22 Cal.4th at pages 958-963, we discussed a defendant's contention that the trial court coerced him into withdrawing his motion for self-representation. As in Jenkins, we

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