Opinion ID: 1499277
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: The Hearing of 22 March 1978

Text: This was the day set for trial. Assistant State's Attorney David C. Driscoll, Jr. represented the State. The clerk declared that Mr. Adams is entered here for the defendant. In response to an inquiry by the court, Thompson explained that Adams was his court-appointed lawyer in the District Court. The court discovered that Adams' appearance was not entered of record in the circuit court so that an order on his motion to withdraw was unsigned as not needed. Adams had never been in the case on appeal. The court reminded Thompson that it had told him to get a lawyer. Thompson said he remembered. The court asked Thompson if he were going to trial without one. Thompson said: Yes, sir, and, upon questioning, stated that he wanted a non-jury trial. At this point, the State requested a continuance because a critical witness was missing. Trial was set for 19 April. The court turned to Thompson: Go get yourself a lawyer. Don't come in here and tell me Mr. Adams is your lawyer because he is not. You come in here. You got two more weeks. Boy, you're just getting lucky. You won't be lucky the next time. You come in here with a lawyer, you understand, in two weeks. The clerk observed that the trial date was 19 April. The court said: So that is four weeks from today, April 19, and if you don't show up there will be a bench warrant for you. You better be here and be here with a lawyer. Whereupon, the hearing was concluded.