Title: State v. Westray

State: maryland

Issuer: Maryland Supreme Court

Document:

State of Maryland v. William Westray, No. 74, September Term, 2014.  
 
 
 
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE — RIGHT TO COUNSEL — DISCHARGE OF 
COUNSEL:  When a trial court permits a defendant in a criminal case to discharge defense 
counsel without a “meritorious” reason for doing so, Rule 4-215(e) requires the trial court 
to advise the defendant in accordance with Rule 4-215(a)(1) through (a)(4), including a 
“waiver inquiry” pursuant to Rule 4-215(b).  To the extent that such a defendant asserts 
that the waiver inquiry was deficient because the court did not make an explicit finding on 
the record that the defendant was acting knowingly and voluntarily, the defendant must 
preserve the issue by making a contemporaneous objection if the defendant is represented 
by counsel at the time of the waiver inquiry. 
 
 
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE — RIGHT TO COUNSEL — APPOINTMENT OF 
COUNSEL FOLLOWING DISCHARGE OF PRIOR APPOINTED COUNSEL:  
Although a trial court has inherent authority to appoint counsel for defendant in a criminal 
case, the court need not exercise that authority when a defendant discharges an assigned 
assistant public defender without a meritorious reason for doing so. 
 
 
 
 
 
Circuit Court for Montgomery County 
Case No.: Criminal No. 120275 
Argued: June 3, 2015 
 
IN THE COURT OF APPEALS 
OF MARYLAND 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
No. 74 
September Term, 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STATE OF MARYLAND 
v. 
WILLIAM WESTRAY 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Barbera, C.J. 
*Harrell 
Battaglia 
Greene 
Adkins 
McDonald 
Watts,  
 
JJ. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PER CURIAM 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Filed: August 27, 2015 
 
* Harrell, J., now retired, participated in the 
hearing and conference of this case while an 
active member of this Court; after being recalled 
pursuant to the Constitution, Article IV, Section 
3A, he also participated in the decision and 
adoption of this opinion. 
 
The question of how to deal with an indigent defendant who wishes to discharge his 
appointed counsel has bedeviled trial courts, as demonstrated by the many decisions of this 
Court and the Court of Special Appeals construing Maryland Rule 4-215(e), which governs 
the discharge of defense counsel.  This Court recently had occasion to discuss application 
of the rule when the indigent defendant has a “meritorious” reason for discharge of an 
assistant public defender appointed to represent him.1  This case concerns a parallel 
situation with the exception that the trial court found that the indigent defendant did not 
have a meritorious reason for discharging counsel. 
BACKGROUND 
A.       Maryland Rule 4-215(e) 
Maryland Rule 4-215(e) provides as follows: 
If a defendant requests permission to discharge an attorney 
whose appearance has been entered, the court shall permit the 
defendant to explain the reasons for the request. If the court 
finds that there is a meritorious reason for the defendant's 
request, the court shall permit the discharge of counsel; 
continue the action if necessary; and advise the defendant that 
if new counsel does not enter an appearance by the next 
scheduled trial date, the action will proceed to trial with the 
defendant unrepresented by counsel. If the court finds no 
meritorious reason for the defendant's request, the court may 
not permit the discharge of counsel without first informing the 
defendant that the trial will proceed as scheduled with the 
defendant unrepresented by counsel if the defendant discharges 
counsel and does not have new counsel. If the court permits the 
defendant to discharge counsel, it shall comply with 
subsections (a)(1)-(4) of this Rule if the docket or file does not 
reflect prior compliance. 
 
 
 
                                              
1 Dykes v. State, ___ Md. ____ (2015), No. 70 (Sept. Term 2014). 
2 
 
In Dykes v. State, ___ Md. ____ (2015), we suggested that the rule can be broken 
down into three steps: 
(1) The defendant explains the reason(s) for discharging 
counsel 
 
While the rule refers to an explanation by the defendant, 
the court may inquire of both the defendant and the current 
defense counsel as to their perceptions of the reasons and need 
for discharge of current defense counsel. 
 
(2)  The court determines whether the reason(s) are 
meritorious 
 
The rule does not define “meritorious.”  This Court has 
equated the term with “good cause.”  This determination – 
whether there is “good cause” for discharge of counsel – is an 
indispensable part of subsection (e) and controls what happens 
in the third step.   
 
(3)  The court advises the defendant and takes other action 
 
The court may then take certain actions, accompanied 
by appropriate advice to the defendant, depending on whether 
it found good cause for discharge of counsel – i.e., a 
meritorious reason. 
 
Dykes, slip op. at 6-9 (citations and quotation marks omitted). 
 
If, in the third step, the court finds that the defendant does not have a meritorious 
reason for discharge of counsel, it is to proceed as follows: 
 
If … the court finds that there is no meritorious reason 
for discharge of defense counsel, the court is to: 
 
 
 
•  advise the defendant that the trial will proceed as 
originally scheduled 
 
 
 
•  advise that the defendant will be unrepresented if the 
defendant discharges counsel and does not have new counsel 
 
3 
 
 
 
•  conduct further proceedings in accordance with [Rule 
4-215(a)] – which governs a defendant’s first appearance in 
court without counsel – if there has not been prior compliance 
 
Id. at  8-9 (emphasis added). 
B. 
Charges, Discharge of Defense Counsel, Trial, and Disposition 
 
From early December 2011 to early January 2012, a series of daytime home 
burglaries bearing similar characteristics occurred in Potomac and Rockville, Maryland.  A 
law enforcement investigation of a white Volvo seen near an attempted burglary led police 
to Respondent William Westray.  Searches of Westray’s vehicle and home yielded multiple 
pieces of jewelry and small electronics stolen from the burglarized homes.   
Westray was arrested in February 2012.  He was found to be qualified on the basis 
of indigency for representation by the Office of the Public Defender (“OPD”) and an 
assistant public defender was assigned to represent him.  On March 22, 2012, a grand jury 
in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County indicted Westray on 24 counts of burglary, 
theft, and related offenses.  
In a series of pretrial hearings held over several months by the Circuit Court, 
Westray expressed dissatisfaction with his assistant public defender.  At various times, he 
indicated that he would obtain the services of a private attorney with the financial help of 
family members or that he would represent himself.  The Circuit Court found that Westray 
did not have a meritorious reason for discharging his assigned counsel and warned Westray 
that an attorney would be helpful to him and that he might find himself in the position of 
having to represent himself.  But Westray carried through with discharging his attorney.  
Later, less than a month before the scheduled trial date, Westray filed a motion asking the 
4 
 
court to help him obtain “pro bono counsel.”  The Circuit Court declined to do so, 
expressing doubt about its power to appoint counsel other than through the OPD.  
The trial proceeded as scheduled with Westray representing himself.  The jury 
returned guilty verdicts on 21 of the 22 counts that went to trial.  The Circuit Court later 
sentenced Westray to a cumulative 60-year prison term. 
C. 
Appeal 
Westray appealed.  The Court of Special Appeals reversed, holding that the Circuit 
Court failed to comply with the requirement of Maryland Rule 4-215(b) that “the court 
determin[e] and announc[e] on the record that the defendant is knowingly and voluntarily 
waiving the right to counsel.”  217 Md. App. 429, 450, 94 A.3d 134 (2014).  In dicta, the 
intermediate appellate court stated that the trial court had acted within its discretion when 
it did not appoint new counsel after it permitted Westray to discharge his assistant public 
defender.  Observing that “the [OPD] did not decline to represent Westray,” the 
intermediate appellate court reasoned that “the [Circuit C]ourt neither erred nor abused its 
discretion because once [Westray] discharged his assigned public defender without a 
meritorious reason, he limited his options to hiring private counsel or representing 
himself.”  217 Md. App. at 453. 
 
The State filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari, and Westray filed a Conditional 
Cross-Petition for Writ of Certiorari, both of which we granted, to consider the following 
questions: 
1. Did the Court of Special Appeals err in determining that, 
where Westray was represented by counsel and requested 
discharge of counsel, the trial court was required to 
5 
 
determine and announce on the record that he was 
knowingly and voluntarily waiving the right to counsel? 
 
2. Did the Circuit Court abuse its discretion in denying Mr. 
Westray’s request for the appointment of counsel by 
repeatedly stating that it lacked the power to appoint 
counsel to assist Mr. Westray?[2] 
 
Before we address these questions, it is useful to set out in some detail the sequence 
and substance of the dialogue between the Circuit Court and Westray at the several 
hearings that focused on his dissatisfaction with his defense counsel and his desires as to 
representation. 
D. 
Hearings Concerning Discharge and Appointment of Defense Counsel 
 
Shortly after the indictment was returned, the assistant public defender entered his 
appearance on behalf of Westray and immediately sought discovery and filed various 
motions.  Westray, however, apparently expressed dissatisfaction with his representation 
to this attorney and, on April 23, 2012, the assistant public defender filed a Defendant’s 
                                              
2 This second question comes from Westray’s Cross-Petition for Writ of Certiorari.  
We have slightly rephrased it for clarity, retaining its essence.  The original question 
presented in Westray’s Cross-Petition is: 
 
Did the [Circuit Court] abuse its discretion in denying Mr. 
Westray’s request for the appointment of pro bono counsel, by 
repeatedly stating that it lacked the power to appoint pro bono 
counsel to assist Mr. Westray? 
 
(Emphasis added.)  Consistent with the Motion for Pro Bono Screening he filed before 
trial, Westray uses “pro bono counsel” to refer to an attorney whom he does not need to 
pay.  “Pro bono,” of course, means that not only does the client not need to pay, but also 
the attorney represents the client without compensation.  Moore v. State, 390 Md. 343, 408 
n.11, 889 A.2d 325, 363 n.11 (2005) (Bell, C.J., dissenting) (“Pro bono representation 
envisions providing legal services without compensation[.]” (citation and internal 
quotation marks omitted)).     
6 
 
Motion to Inquire Regarding Counsel on behalf of Westray.  The Circuit Court held a 
hearing on May 15, 2012, to deal with that motion.   
May 15, 2012 Hearing 
At the hearing on May 15, the Circuit Court had the following discussion with 
Westray: 
Court:  
 
... And I want to make sure that you’re well represented. 
 
Westray: 
 
I mean this man is an idiot, sir. ... You might as well going to 
kill me.  I’m not going into a courtroom with this man. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
* 
 
* 
 
* 
 
I will represent myself and I would die first before I, before I, 
before I come to court with this man, okay? 
 
After several unsuccessful attempts to ask Westray to describe any meetings he had with 
the assistant public defender, the court turned to defense counsel.  The assistant public 
defender said that he had met with Westray early in the case and had obtained biographical 
information, but that Westray “wouldn’t engage with me.”  The assistant public defender 
said that he had contacted family members to explore whether Westray was competent to 
stand trial, but had not gotten a clear answer on that question.  He had not received any 
particular directions from Westray as to how to defend the case, other than Westray telling 
him that he was “fired.”  The District Public Defender for Montgomery County also 
appeared at the hearing and explained to Westray on the record that his office could not 
assign him a particular lawyer of his choosing. 
 
The court then inquired whether Westray had the means to hire new counsel.  
Westray indicated that he might be able to do so: 
7 
 
Court:  
 
… but do you have a private attorney who could represent 
you in this case?  
 
Westray: 
 
I could find one.  I can get the money and find one. 
 
Court:  
 
Well, do you want the opportunity to do that? 
 
Westray: 
 
Yes.  Yes, I do, sir. 
 
The court then advised Westray that the assistant public defender could forward discovery 
and other information to any new attorney that he would retain.  The court postponed 
resolution of the motion to discharge counsel for a month.  Although the court had not 
finally resolved the discharge motion, it proceeded to advise Westray in accordance with 
Rule 4-215(a)(1) through (a)(4).3  In particular, it ensured that Westray had a copy of the 
indictment, recited the charges set forth in the indictment, and advised Westray of the 
maximum penalty for the various charges.  The court then stressed the importance of 
counsel: 
Court:  
 
So, obviously, ... I don’t have to tell you, you’re facing a 
substantial amount of charges.  And, of course, as the State’s 
Attorney pointed out, you’ve got 22, 24 counts. 
 
So an attorney can be of assistance to you at trial.  I mean even 
if you are guilty of any of these offenses, an attorney can help 
you in the event you’re convicted to explain to the Judge why 
you should get a lesser sentence.  So it’s very important, 
obviously, that you have an attorney. 
 
Now you already know, because you have been represented by 
the Public Defender, that you may be entitled to representation 
by the Public Defender.  But as has been pointed out to you by 
the [District Public Defender], if you are dissatisfied with [the 
                                              
3 As noted above, Rule 4-215(e) requires a court to advise a defendant in accordance 
with subsections (a)(1) through (a)(4) of Rule 4-215 if it permits discharge of an attorney 
and “if the docket or file does not reflect prior compliance.”  Rule 4-215(e). 
8 
 
assistant public defender], it is their policy, meaning the Public 
Defender’s policy, that you can’t be represented by another 
member of the office. 
 
In other words, you don’t have the right to choose which Public 
Defender is going to represent you. 
 
You also have the right to be represented by a private attorney 
which you’ve indicated to me you’re going to try to do.  So it’s 
very important that you attend to that as quickly as possible, 
because if you come back here in 30 days when we have the 
new hearing and you tell me, “Judge, I don’t have a, I can’t 
afford a private attorney,” then you’re going to have to make 
that decision which it sounds like you’ve already made, that 
you don’t want to have [the assistant public defender] represent 
you and you’re going to have to represent yourself, which I 
wouldn’t recommend because you’re not a trained lawyer. 
 
Now I’m not suggesting you should discharge [the assistant 
public defender], but I think it would be a good idea for you to 
at least think about this over the next 30 days.  If you get ... the 
private attorney, that’s fine.  We can deal with that.  But if not, 
in 30 days you’re going to have to tell me, Judge, I want to fire 
[the assistant public defender] or I want to keep him and I’ll 
respect whatever that decision is. 
 
At the conclusion of the hearing, at the suggestion of the assistant public defender, 
Westray agreed to meet with the District Public Defender to provide any specific 
complaints he had about his representation.  The court scheduled another hearing on the 
matter for June 8. 
 
June 8, 2012 Hearing 
 
 
At the outset of the hearing on June 8, the assistant public defender re-capped what 
had happened at the May hearing.  In Westray’s presence, he advised that court that, based 
on his meetings and discussions with Westray, that he had “no doubt” that Westray was 
competent in the sense of understanding the proceedings and the importance of counsel.  
9 
 
He also said that he thought Westray was capable of working with counsel on his defense, 
but “I think he just is unwilling to work with present counsel and I think that’s a voluntary 
decision on his part ….”  The assistant public defender also said that he had reiterated to 
Westray that “[i]f it’s determined today by the Court that his discharge is, it’s voluntary 
and it is not for cause, ... if current counsel is not ineffective, the Office of the Public 
Defender is not going to appoint another attorney to represent him.”   
The court was then advised by counsel that plea discussions would not resolve the 
case, and the court proceeded to address Westray about the discharge motion: 
Court:  
 
So tell me what it is that you would like to do?  Do you want 
to discharge [the assistant public defender]? 
 
Westray: 
 
Yes, sir. 
 
 
 
 
* 
 
* 
 
* 
 
Court:  
 
Okay.  Have you decided whether you want to represent 
yourself or are you going to retain – 
 
 
Westray: 
 
I’m representing myself.  I already started the process, Your 
Honor.  
 
The court then repeated some of the advice it had given at the previous hearing about the 
advisability of having counsel and then provided its assessment of Westray’s reason for 
discharging counsel: 
Court:  
 
Okay.  Well, let me first say I’ve known [the assistant public 
defender] professionally a long time.  He’s tried a lot of cases, 
a lot of motions, a lot of hearings before me.  He’s very good 
at what he does.  He does it every day.  And it seems to me 
that the reason that you want to fire him is for whatever 
reason you don’t like him and that’s your prerogative, but I 
don’t find merit in the reasons you’ve advanced for firing 
him. 
10 
 
 
So I’ve concluded that it will be appropriate, since you can’t 
work with him, to discharge him, but we’re not going to 
change the trial date.  You understand that, right? 
 
Westray: 
 
Okay. 
 
The court concluded by again encouraging Westray to obtain counsel.  It then made sure 
that Westray had a copy of the indictment and would receive copies of the State’s 
discovery.  The court then noted on the record its “previous compliance with 4-215(a),” 
noted that it had stressed the importance of an attorney to Westray, that his reason for 
discharge of the OPD was not meritorious, that the appearance of the OPD on his behalf 
was stricken, and that, “if Mr. Westray continues to want to represent himself, I’m going 
to permit him to do that.”  The court indicated that it would revisit the issue of 
representation, if necessary, at a motions hearing previously scheduled for two weeks later.  
June 21, 2012 Hearing 
On June 21, the Circuit Court held a “status hearing” on Westray’s representation.  
The court recounted that the assistant public defender had been discharged, reiterated its 
advice that it would be a “good idea” for Westray to have counsel, and inquired as to 
Westray’s current position.  Westray confirmed that he wished to represent himself.  The 
remainder of the hearing was devoted to Westray’s complaint about the breadth of a search 
of his home pursuant to a search warrant. 
August 21, 2012 Hearing 
On August 1, 2012, three weeks before the trial was set to commence, Westray filed 
a “Motion for Pro Bono Screening.”  In that motion Westray noted his prior conflict with 
11 
 
the OPD, and stated that he was unable financially to retain private counsel.  Citing a court 
rule that provides for the creation of local pro bono plans that screen clients for referral for 
pro bono representation,4 Westray asked the court to “grant a pro bono screening.”  
Westray also sought a postponement of his trial. 
The Circuit Court took up both motions on the morning of trial.  The court first 
summarized the prior hearings: 
Court:  
 
Now before I hear you in argument, I want to remind you of a 
couple things.  You were back before me in May because [the 
assistant public defender] was concerned that he was going to 
be fired and wanted a hearing so I could determine what the 
status was regarding your counsel. 
 
And I at that time advised you of your right to counsel 
because you hadn’t previously been advised since you were 
represented by counsel.  And I explained to you that an 
attorney could be of assistance to you during the trial.  Even if 
you were found guilty, an attorney would be helpful in 
explaining to a judge that a lesser sentence might be 
appropriate in your case.   
 
But we set another hearing on June 8th because I actually had 
tried to dissuade you in May from firing [the assistant public 
defender]. 
 
At the June 8th hearing, I informed you that I would let you 
discharge [the assistant public defender]; however, that you 
needed to understand that under the law of this state, when 
you fire your Public Defender, you don’t get the choice of 
another free attorney. 
 
And I didn’t find any merit in your reason for firing [the 
assistant public defender].  I think he’s a fine attorney.  I 
know you didn’t like him and I appreciate that, but you 
assured me at that time that you wanted to go ahead and 
represent yourself.  And I told you that if you obtained new 
                                              
4 Maryland Rule 16-902(c). 
12 
 
counsel and that new counsel had a trial conflict, I would be 
glad to consider postponing the matter. 
 
The court then turned to the motion at hand: 
 
Court:  
 
So now here in early August you now say, “Well, I want, I 
want you to appoint a pro bono attorney for me.”  I don’t 
know that I have any power to do that.  The only provision 
that I’m aware of in a criminal case for representation of the 
indigent, at least through a state agency, is the Public 
Defender.  And as I said, you’re not allowed to pick and 
choose Public Defenders.  So do you still want me to 
postpone this case? 
 
Westray: 
 
Yes. 
 
Court:  
 
Tell me why you want me to postpone the case? 
 
Westray: 
 
Because I do need pro bono attorney.  I do need that. 
 
Court:  
 
But you’re asking the Court to appoint that pro bono lawyer? 
 
Westray: 
 
Yes. 
 
Court:  
 
No.  I don’t know that I have the power to do that.  I don’t – 
pro bono work, first of all, means somebody who is going to, 
who is going to work for you for free and I don’t know of too 
many attorneys that would do that.  Now the Public 
Defender’s Office, they’re paid by the state to represent 
indigent defendants.  But, as I said, you chose to get rid of 
[the assistant public defender]. 
 
 
 
 
 
... 
The point is now that you’re really, since you let the Public 
Defender go, you really sort of have the choice of 
representing yourself or hiring a private attorney, which I 
understand you’re not able to do.  And you did assure me that 
you wanted to represent yourself.  So here we are. 
 
Westray: 
 
So be it, man.  I represent myself, I don’t need, I don’t need 
it, brother. 
 
The court then denied Westray’s motion for a postponement. 
13 
 
 
DISCUSSION 
A. 
Failure to “Determine and Announce” 
 
As outlined above, a circuit court must navigate three steps to carry out the 
requirements of Rule 4-215(e) when a defendant seeks to discharge counsel.  There is no 
question that the Circuit Court here covered the first two steps – (1) the court ascertained 
Westray’s reasons for seeking to discharge counsel, from both Westray himself and his 
assigned public defender and (2) the court explicitly decided whether Westray had a 
meritorious reason for the discharge, finding that he did not.   
 
In the third step under the rule, the Circuit Court was to:  
 
•  
advise the defendant that the trial will proceed as originally scheduled 
•  
advise that the defendant will be unrepresented if the defendant discharges 
counsel and  does not have new counsel 
• 
conduct further proceedings in accordance with [Rule 4-215(a)(1)-(4)] – 
which governs a defendant’s first appearance in court without counsel – if 
there has not been prior compliance 
Again, there is no dispute that the Circuit Court amply and repeatedly covered the first two 
items on this list in its dialogues with Westray.  The only dispute concerns whether the 
court adequately covered subsection (a)(4), which directs the court to “conduct a waiver 
inquiry pursuant to [Rule 4-215(b)] if the defendant indicates a desire to waive counsel.”  
Section (b) of the rule provides for an examination of the defendant on the record 
concerning his desire to waive counsel, following which the court “determines and 
14 
 
announces on the record that the defendant is knowingly and voluntarily waiving the right 
to counsel.” 
 
Westray argues that the Circuit Court failed to “determine and announce” that 
Westray was acting knowingly and voluntarily, when Westray effectively waived the right 
to counsel by discharging his appointed assistant public defender for a reason that was not 
meritorious.  The State argues that the “determine and announce” requirement of section 
(b) is not applicable – that the Circuit Court was required only to conduct a “waiver 
inquiry” and did not need to make an explicit finding.  The State further argues that, in any 
event, Westray failed to preserve this issue when he did not object to the Circuit Court’s 
failure to make an explicit finding. 
 
The Court of Special Appeals held that there was no need for Westray to make a 
contemporaneous objection to preserve the issue.  It reasoned that a defendant who 
discharges counsel is not required to make a contemporaneous objection because a 
defendant without representation cannot be expected to understand and to make a necessary 
objection.  The intermediate appellate court also held that the “determine and announce” 
provision is an integral part of the “waiver inquiry” under Rule 4-215(b) and that the Circuit 
Court’s failure to make an explicit finding required reversal of Westray’s convictions.  
 
We need not resolve whether the “determine and announce” requirement of section 
(b) always applies when a court is carrying out the dictates of Rule 4-215(e).  In our view, 
in the particular circumstances of this case, Westray was required to make a 
contemporaneous objection to preserve the issue. 
15 
 
 
In Nalls v. State, 437 Md. 674, 89 A.3d 1126 (2014), we dealt with a similar 
provision in Rule 4-246(b), which governs the waiver of a jury trial by a criminal defendant 
and which requires a circuit court, after examining the defendant on the record, to 
determine and announce whether the defendant is making that choice knowingly and 
voluntarily.  Although we dispensed with the requirement in that particular case, we 
indicated in Nalls, consistent with Rule 8-131(a), that a defendant who seeks to overturn a 
conviction on the ground that the court did not make the requisite finding on the record 
must preserve the issue before the circuit court by making a contemporaneous objection.  
437 Md. at 691-94. 
 
We agree with the Court of Special Appeals that, in many instances under Rule 4-
215, it may be unfair to expect a lay defendant to know the rule and to require a 
contemporaneous objection if the defendant is pro se – e.g., if counsel has never been 
appointed or has already been discharged.  But that is not this case.   
 
The Circuit Court conducted the litany under subsections (a)(1) through (a)(4) at the 
first hearing on the discharge of counsel on May 15, 2012, and further explored whether 
Westray was acting voluntarily and with full knowledge of the consequences of his 
decision during the second hearing on June 8, 2012 – all of which occurred prior to the 
discharge of counsel.  As is evident from the transcript of those hearings, it is indisputable 
that the Circuit Court was painstaking in its effort to ensure that Westray’s effort to 
discharge counsel was truly his own decision and that he was aware of the consequences 
of that decision.  Indeed, there was explicit discussion between the court and counsel about 
Westray’s competence and voluntariness in making the decision.  At the June 8 hearing, 
16 
 
the assistant public defender explained to the court that Westray was both competent and 
acting voluntarily at that hearing – assertions that the court obviously accepted.  It is true 
that the court did not explicitly state that it found Westray to be acting knowingly and 
voluntarily, but the court clearly was exploring those issues at the hearing and, just as 
clearly, concluded that Westray was acting knowingly and voluntarily when it permitted 
the discharge of counsel.  Thus, at the time the court arguably failed to comply with the 
“determine and announce” requirement, Westray was represented by counsel and the 
requirement of a contemporaneous objection applied.  
 
Westray’s appointed counsel was not discharged until the end of the second hearing 
on June 8.  Rule 4-215(e) did not require the court to repeat the litany required by 
subsections (a)(1) through (a)(4) at that hearing as there had been “prior compliance” with 
that requirement, as the court itself noted on the record.   
B. 
Failure to Appoint Substitute Counsel 
 
As we recently stated in Dykes, supra, slip op. at 4-5, a trial court has inherent 
authority to appoint counsel as necessary to carry out its constitutional function – authority 
that may be necessary to invoke when the OPD is unavailable to represent an indigent 
defendant who has a constitutional right to the appointment of counsel furnished by the 
State.5  However, when an indigent defendant discharges appointed counsel without a 
meritorious reason, the court may regard the discharge as a waiver of counsel, if it is done 
                                              
5 In Dykes, the circuit court found that the defendant had a meritorious reason for 
discharging the assigned assistant public defender.  We held that, if the OPD were to 
decline to provide another attorney to represent the defendant, it would be necessary for 
the court to exercise its inherent authority to appoint new counsel. 
17 
 
knowingly and voluntarily.  See Fowlkes v. State, 311 Md. 586, 604, 536 A.2d 1149 (1988).  
Moreover, the trial court has no obligation to exercise its inherent authority to appoint 
substitute counsel when it finds that an indigent defendant lacks good cause to discharge 
appointed counsel.  Dykes, slip op. at 27 n.19. 
 
Here, the Circuit Court clearly regarded Westray’s decision to discharge counsel as 
a waiver of counsel, unless Westray could obtain private counsel with the funds that he 
asserted he expected to obtain.  Shortly before trial, Westray belatedly asked for referral to 
a pro bono program.  The court was skeptical about its authority to provide counsel outside 
of the OPD, particularly as Westray appeared to be asking for a lawyer who would not be 
paid.6   In its discussion with Westray during the August 21 hearing, the court did not 
resolve its doubts about its authority to appoint counsel, but clearly stated that it would not 
do so.  Although the court may not have been fully aware of its inherent authority to appoint 
counsel when necessary, it did not abuse its discretion in declining to do so for Westray, 
when Westray lacked good cause for discharging his assigned assistant public defender. 
JUDGMENT OF THE COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS 
REVERSED.  CASE REMANDED TO THAT COURT 
WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO AFFIRM THE JUDGMENT 
OF THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONTGOMERY 
COUNTY.  COSTS IN THIS COURT AND IN THE 
COURT OF SPECIAL APPEALS TO BE PAID BY 
RESPONDENT. 
                                              
6 Given our resolution of this issue, we need not speculate on how an attorney appointed 
under the court’s inherent authority might be paid – or not.  See 76 Opinions of the Attorney 
General 341, 343-45 (1991).