State v. Taylor’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

16 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 16 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “If the court determines that the request is supported by meritorious reasons, it must (1) permit the discharge; (2) order a continuance, if necessary; and, (3) “advise the defendant that if new counsel does not enter an appearance by the next scheduled trial date, the action will proceed to trial with the defendant unrepresented by counsel.” [Pinkney, 427 Md. at 93-94 , 46 A.3d at 423 ]; Md. Rule 4-215(e). In contrast, if the court finds that the defendant’s reason for discharging his defense counsel is not meritorious, it must first inform the defendant that “the trial will proceed as scheduled with the defendant unrepresented by counsel if the defendant discharges counsel and does not have new counsel.” Md. Rule 4-215(e). Once the defendant is notified thus, the trial judge may proceed by “(1) denying] the request and, if the defendant rejects the right to represent himself and instead elects to keep the attorney he has, continue the proceedings; (2) permit[ting] the discharge in accordance with the Rule, but require counsel to remain available on a standby basis; [or] (3) granting] the request in accordance with the Rule and relieve counsel of any further obligation.” Williams, 321 Md. at 273, 582 A.2d at 806 (citing Fowlkes v. State, 311 Md. 586, 604-05 , 536 A.2d 1149, 1158-59 (1988)); Md. Rule 4-215(e).”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Graves

2. “If a defendant requests permission to discharge an attorney whose appearance has been entered, the court shall permit the defendant to explain the reasons for the request. If the court finds that there is a meritorious reason for the defendant’s request, the court shall permit the discharge of counsel; continue the action if necessary; and advise the defendant that if new counsel does not enter an appearance by the next scheduled trial date, the action will proceed to trial with the defendant unrepresented by counsel. If the court finds no meritorious reason for the defendant’s request, the court may not permit the discharge of counsel without first informing the defendant that the trial will proceed as scheduled with the defendant unrepresented by counsel if the defendant discharges counsel and does not have new counsel. If the court permits the defendant to discharge counsel, it shall comply with subsections (a)(1) — (4) of this Rule if the docket or file does not reflect prior compliance.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Graves

3. “[Defense Counsel]: In this situation, and I’m speaking on behalf of my client on this — and he can correct whatever things are not correct — I mean he does have a certain comfort level with Mr. Stein as a result of just having finished a trial with Mr. Stein____So there’s a comfort level there. And I know that the family was probably trying to come up with the funds to retain Mr. Stein, and that didn’t happen until very — obviously until the day before trial.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Graves