Book v. State

OPINION

BAKER, Chief Judge.

In this case, we explore the delicate balance between a trial judge’s authority to efficiently control the court proceedings and a defendant’s right to confer with counsel before deciding whether and when to testify at trial. Appellant-defendant Kevin Book appeals his conviction for Murder, 1 a felony. Specifically, Book argues that the trial court violated his Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights under the United States Constitution when he was allegedly compelled to make a decision whether to testify at a particular time during the trial. In essence, Book claims that…