San Diego

Former Chargers football player Johnny Rodgers was granted his request Thursday to act as his own attorney in an upcoming trial on charges of assault with a deadly weapon.

The request was granted by Superior Court Judge Richard Huffman, who fined Rodgers’ former attorney $500 for “disrupting the proceedings.”

Rodgers complained about his previous attorneys’ work on the case and said he needed more time to prepare his case. Huffman set a trial date for Jan. 12.

But Huffman called George McGill, Rodgers’ former attorney, from out of the courtroom audience and asked him why he didn’t make an appearance for his client. McGill said he had had no involvement in the case in the last month.

Huffman told McGill he could have come to court on a motion for substitution of attorneys.

“I think the court’s getting jerked around here,” Huffman said. “You have thoroughly disrupted the proceedings in this court.”

The judge ordered McGill to pay the $500 within 30 days. Huffman has previously expressed annoyance at the delays in the case.

Attorney David Perry appeared with Rodgers in court, but told the judge he was working on the case for free. Perry told the judge that Rodgers’ previous attorneys had made “gross mistakes.”

Rodgers is accused of pointed a loaded gun at a Cox Cable technician who came to his home to disconnect the television service because of nonpayment.