People v. McDonald

In December 1960, defendant was convicted by a jury of statutory rape.* 1 He represented himself at trial but he was assisted by his appellate counsel. This situation developed because on the original trial date, defendant requested that his assigned counsel be discharged and that counsel was permitted to withdraw from the case. Although given an opportunity to obtain counsel prior to trial, defendant failed to do so, and present appellate counsel was appointed to assist defendant at trial.

In December 1964, defendant filed a petition for appointment of appellate counsel and requested the…