Case Name: The STATE, Respondent, v. Ernest James MASSEY, Appellant
Court: Supreme Court of South Carolina
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1981-11-25
Citations: 277 S.C. 213
Docket Number: 21606
Parties: The STATE, Respondent, v. Ernest James MASSEY, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Carolina Reports
Volume: 277
Pages: 213–214

Head Matter:
21606
The STATE, Respondent, v. Ernest James MASSEY, Appellant.
(284 S. E. (2d) 781)
Appellate Defender John L. Sweeny of S. C. Com’n of Appellate Defense, Columbia, for appellant.
Atty. Gen. Daniel R. McLeod and Asst. Attys. Gen. Lindy P. Funkhouser and Nan L. Black, Columbia, for respondent.
November 25, 1981.

Opinion:
Per Curiam:
Appellant was indicted on a charge of grand larceny. Before his trial began, he requested that his court-appointed counsel be relieved and that he be allowed to represent himself. The presiding judge asked the appellant about his age, education, employment, and prior observation of court proceedings. The judge advised appellant of his right to counsel and instructed the appointed counsel to remain at the defense table to answer any questions. Appellant's request to represent himself was granted, and he proceeded without receiving any assistance from counsel. Appellant was convicted of grand larceny and was sentenced to ten (10) years' imprisonment.
The record before this Court indicates that the presiding judge failed to determine whether appellant's request to pro ceed pro se constituted a knowing and intelligent waiver o£ the right to counsel. See State v. Dixon, 269 S. C. 107,109, 236 S. E. (2d) 419, 420 (1977), citing Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U. S. 458, 58 S. Ct. 1019, 82 L. Ed. (2d) 1461 (1938). Accordingly, pursuant to the procedure employed in Dixon, supra, this case is remanded to the lower court for determination of whether the waiver was made knowingly and intelligently.