Convicted killer Joseph Duncan, who is representing himself during his federal sentencing hearing, has taken over juror questioning from his standby counsel.

Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge denied Duncan’s former defense attorneys’ request to withdraw from the case, and ordered them to assist in questioning the people who would potentially be responsible for whether Duncan gets the death penalty or life in prison for the kidnapping of two Idaho children in 2005 and the killing of one of them.

Thursday morning, the attorneys questioned two potential jurors before Duncan requested to handle the rest of the process himself. Lodge asked Duncan repeatedly if he felt he had enough experience to continue interviewing jurors himself and discouraged him from doing so, but Duncan insisted, adding that it is unlikely he will ask questions. Even though Duncan will proceed on his own, his defense team will still be available to him.

The current 300-strong jury pool will be narrowed down to 59, and from that 12 jurors and three alternates will be selected.

Duncan has already confessed in state court to the murders of three of the children’s family members.