Court Opinion

ID: 9724402
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 10:55:34.443859+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:25:00.015735
License: Public Domain

Boslaugh, J.,
concurring.
I concur in the judgment of the court.
The rule stated in the opinion of the court that the record of a conviction offered for enhancement purposes must show that the defendant was represented by counsel or waived that right does not necessarily refer to an express waiver. A waiver can be inferred from conduct. See State v. Tharp, 224 Neb. 126, 395 N.W.2d 762 (1986).
The defendant in this case was advised of his right to counsel at the arraignment, and he was determined not to be an indigent person entitled to appointed counsel. At the next hearing the defendant again appeared without counsel but changed his plea from not guilty to no contest. At the third hearing, which was the sentencing hearing, the defendant again appeared without counsel and expressly waived his right to counsel. Under these circumstances I believe it could be inferred that the defendant waived his right to counsel by conduct.
If there is a deficiency in the record in this case, it is because the trial court used a checklist-type record which failed to show all of the circumstances concerning the defendant’s attitude toward obtaining counsel to represent him. In future cases it might be well to supplement the checklist, or use a different form of order, so that there can be no question that the defendant elected to proceed in the absence of counsel after having been advised of his right to obtain counsel at his own expense.