State v. Washington

The defendant, Gary Washington, appeals from the judgment of the trial court revoking his probation. On appeal, he claims that the trial court improperly (1) denied his request for a public defender, (2) failed to canvass him concerning the waiver of his right to counsel, and (3) denied his request for a continuance in order to allow him to retain counsel. After oral argument, this court sua sponte raised the issue of whether the trial court violated Canon 3C (1) of the Code of Judicial Conduct1 or the defendant’s right to due process by presiding over his revocation of probation hearing…