State v. Luker

VAUGHN, Chief Judge.

It is a cardinal principle of criminal law that an indigent defendant has the right under the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution to assistance of counsel for his defense. Argersinger v. Hamlin, 407 U.S. 25, 92 S.Ct. 2006, 32 L.Ed. 2d 530 (1972); Gideon v. Wainright, 372 U.S. 335, 83 S.Ct. 792, 9 L.Ed. 2d 799 (1963); State v. Hutchins, 303 N.C. 321, 279 S.E. 2d 788 (1981); see also N.C. Const. Art. I, § 23.

Upon defendant’s affidavit of indigency in the case at bar, counsel was appointed on 4 March 1982. Counsel represented defendant for approximately six…