From Casetext: Smarter Legal Research

Burns v. State

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District
Feb 6, 1991
573 So. 2d 1047 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1991)

Opinion

No. 89-0380.

February 6, 1991.

Appeal from the Circuit Court, St. Lucie County, L.B. Vocelle, J.

Richard L. Jorandby, Public Defender, and Anthony Calvello, Asst. Public Defender, West Palm Beach, for appellant.

Robert A. Butterworth, Atty. Gen., Tallahassee, and Patricia G. Lampert, Asst. Atty. Gen., West Palm Beach, for appellee.


We reverse appellant's conviction on all counts in case number 88-2853-CF because the inquiry into whether appellant knowingly and intelligently waived counsel was inadequate. The trial court did not inquire into factors such as appellant's mental condition, knowledge and experience in criminal proceedings, or capacity to make the decision. Nor was appellant informed of the benefits associated with the right to counsel he was relinquishing or the dangers of self representation. Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 95 S.Ct. 2525, 45 L.Ed.2d 562 (1975); Johnston v. State, 497 So.2d 863 (Fla. 1986); Clark v. State, 442 So.2d 1044 (Fla. 4th DCA 1983); Fla.R. Crim.P. 3.111(d). The factor that standby counsel may be available does not modify the extent of necessary inquiry.

We find no error in the denial of appellant's motion to suppress or in the evidentiary issues raised. The sentencing error is now moot.

HERSEY, C.J., and WALDEN, JAMES H., (Retired), Associate Judge, concur.

STONE, J., concurs specially with opinion.


I concur separately to note that in my judgment, it was also error not to suppress the evidence found in the search of appellant's room.


Summaries of

Burns v. State

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District
Feb 6, 1991
573 So. 2d 1047 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1991)
Case details for

Burns v. State

Case Details

Full title:JAMES BURNS, APPELLANT, v. STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE

Court:District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District

Date published: Feb 6, 1991

Citations

573 So. 2d 1047 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1991)

Citing Cases

Young v. State

Similarly, in DiBartolomeo v. State, 450 So.2d 925 (Fla. 4th DCA 1984), we also reversed a trial judge's…

Nelson v. State

Where there is an insufficient inquiry into the waiver of counsel, the fact that the defendant had standby…