State v. Graves

In this case, we decide whether the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County (“circuit court”) satisfied Md. Rule 4-215(e), which requires the court to “permit the defendant to explain the reasons for [a] request” to discharge counsel. We shall hold that, where an assistant public defender (“defense counsel”) indicated that Jeriko Graves (“Respondent”) wished to obtain a postponement to hire private counsel that Respondent had retained in the past, Md. Rule 4-215(e) required that the circuit court seek an explanation for the request to discharge counsel from the defendant, or ensure that the…