People v. Scott

I believe that the right of an accused to be told he can have counsel to assist him in his defense, and if he is indigent, that one will be appoihted for him, is so important that judges should not engage in nice calculations about when that right should be enjoyed. Compare Glasser v. United States (1941), 315 U.S. 60, 86 L. Ed. 680, 62 S. Ct. 457, 467; People v. Noble, 42 Ill. 2d 425, 248 N.E.2d 96.

In this case, defendant appeared in the trial court for a preliminary hearing on a theft charge. By the laws of this State, the judge was required to tell him that he had the right to counsel.…