Campbell v. United States

Appellant was charged with nonsupport of seven minor children. Code 1951 (Supp. VIII), § 22-903. When arraigned several months later the judge advised him of his constitutional and statutory rights to assistance of counsel and the right to have counsel appointed in his behalf. Appellant waived such rights in writing and was given a one-year sentence.

Two weeks later counsel filed in his behalf a motion “to set aside plea of guilty and for a new trial,” accompanied by a short affidavit reciting that although he had signed a waiver of counsel he did not then recognize the significance of the…