—Waiver

A person shall be permitted to waive his or her right to counsel and shall be permitted to repre- sent himself or herself at any stage of the proceed- ings, either prior to or following the appointment of counsel. A waiver will be accepted only after the judicial authority makes a thorough inquiry and is satisfied that the person: (1) Has been clearly advised of his or her right to the assistance of counsel, including his or her right to the assignment of counsel when he or she is so entitled; (2) Possesses the intelligence and capacity to appreciate the consequences of the decision to represent himself or herself; (3) Comprehends the nature of the proceed- ings, the range of permissible sanctions and any additional facts essential to a broad understand- ing of the case; and (4) Has been made aware of the risks and dis- advantages of self-representation. (P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 484B.)