S.S. v. State

Tom Glaze, Justice.

In a bench trial before the juvenile division of the Benton County Circuit Court, the judge found appellant S.S. guilty of possession of a controlled substance and placed him on probation. On appeal, S.S.’s only point for reversal is that the trial judge violated S.S.’s Sixth Amendment right to counsel by refusing his attorney the right to make a closing argument. The State concedes that the trial judge erred and that this case should be remanded for a new trial. We agree.

After the State and S.S. rested their cases, the trial judge promptly found S.S. guilty. Taken by…