State v. Hampton

¶1 — On the eve of Matthew Hampton’s trial, Hampton moved to replace his appointed counsel with a new private attorney on the condition that the trial be continued so his new counsel could prepare. The trial court denied the continuance, so Hampton proceeded with his previously appointed counsel. He was ultimately convicted of third degree rape. The Court of Appeals reversed his conviction, holding that the trial court’s decision violated Hampton’s constitutional right to his choice of counsel *660because it considered Hampton’s reasons for wanting a neattorney. State v. Hampton, 182 Wn. App.…