Gibson v. District of Columbia

QUINN, Associate Judge:

Appellants were convicted of misdemeanors in separate nonjury trials, and each was sentenced to a short jail term. The parties agree that prior to arraignment only two questions were asked by the trial judge- — -“Do you have a lawyer?” and “Do you want a lawyer?” — and that after receiving a simple “No” to both, he proceeded with their trials. These appeals raise the question of whether appellants were sufficiently advised of their right to counsel so as to satisfy the requirements of the Constitution and the rules of the trial court.

The Sixth Amendment provides: “In…