ARLINGTON, Virginia — Richard Cox once again derailed pretrial proceedings on Friday as a Virginia court tries to decide whether he can exercise the right to self-representation. Cox, who is a registered sex offender, is facing dozens of charges in Virginia’s 17th Judicial Circuit Court, including indecent exposure and indecent liberties with a child. 

Cox is on trial for charges stemming from entering female locker rooms in recreation centers and high school pools open to the public. Cox, a biological male, identifies as transgender and could enter these facilities because Arlington County policy allows people to use the bathroom of the gender they identify with rather than biological sex.