Kiyoshi Higashi wants a new trial. The man who helped plan and carry out the home-invasion robbery in which Edgewood resident Jim Sanders died in 2010 claims Pierce County Superior Court Judge Rosanne Buckner inappropriately rejected his request to represent himself during his murder trial.

A jury ultimately convicted Higashi, who was represented by court-appointed attorney Michael Jordan, and Buckner sentenced the defendant to nearly 124 years in prison.

In a 3-0 opinion released today, the state Court of Appeals for Division II disagreed that Buckner erred in rejecting Higashi’s bid to go pro se.

Read the decision here.