Supreme Court of Rhode Island, 1994

State v. Reilly

State v. Reilly
Supreme Court of Rhode Island · Decided July 15, 1994 · Murray
645 A.2d 494; 1994 R.I. LEXIS 227; 1994 WL 397641 (Atlantic Reporter, Second Series)

State v. Reilly

Opinion of the Court

ORDER

This matter came before the court on the defendant’s motion asking that the Public Defender, his counsel of record in a pending Superior Court criminal case, be released. According to information supplied by the Public Defender, Richard Casparian, Mr. Casparian has conferred with defendant on at least eight occasions in this matter, he has supplied defendant with copies of all discovery received in the case, and he has taken other specified steps to prepare the defendant’s case for trial. The information available indicates that the Public Defender has represented defendant quite effectively. While defendant is free to discharge the Public Defender and thereafter represent himself in this criminal matter, Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975), he is not entitled to have private counsel appointed to represent him. The choice therefore of continuing with the Public Defender or of proceeding on his own remains with the defendant.

The motion to release counsel is denied pro forma.

MURRAY, J., did not participate.

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