State v. Smith

This criminal case requires us to examine the scope of a trial court’s obligation when a defendant requests that the court appoint new counsel because the defendant is dissatisfied with his existing appointed counsel. Here, defendant told the court on the day of trial that he was dissatisfied with his appointed counsel and counsel’s preparation of defendant’s case. The trial court listened to defendant’s complaints, but it did not inquire into the basis of the complaints or hold a hearing regarding defendant’s assertions. The court, however, expressed its confidence that defendant’s appointed…