People v. Tucker

This case concerns a constitutional right so highly valued that harmless error analysis will not be applied to its violation. We refer to a criminal defendant’s right to retained counsel of his choice.

Defendant Larry Tucker was convicted by a jury of two counts of criminal sexual assault. He was sentenced to two consecutive four-year terms in prison.

The main issue on appeal is whether the trial court abused its discretion in denying defendant’s motion for a continuance to substitute counsel after a brief inquiry about the circumstances of the request. Defendant also contends the trial court…