Opinion

State v. Camper

  • 415 Md. 44
  • 998 A.2d 352
  • 2010 Md. LEXIS 278
Court
Court of Appeals of Maryland
Filed
Jul 15, 2010
Status
Published
Author
Murphy
On the bench
Murphy
Cited by
5 cases
Authority
More cited than 9.6%

The opinion

MURPHY, J.,

concurring and dissenting, in which ADKINS, J., joins.

I agree that a “harmless error analysis is inapplicable to [the] violation of Maryland Rule 4-215(a)(3) [that occurred in the case at bar].” In my opinion, when no defense counsel has ever entered an appearance on behalf of the defendant, (1) the trial court should not hold a post-sentence evidentiary hearing to determine whether that defendant had actual knowledge of the information that should have been provided pursuant to the rule, and (2) the record must show that the trial court has “advise[d] the defendant that if the defendant is a subsequent offender, that there may be enhanced penalties, and [has recited] the possible enhanced penalties.” Knox v. State, 404 Md. 76, 89 , 945 A.2d 638, 646 (2008). Unlike the majority, however, I would apply a harmless error analysis in a “discharge of counsel” case where the defendant—having been permitted to discharge counsel—seeks a new trial on the ground that the trial judge failed to comply with the requirements of Md. Rule 4-215(e).

I would also hold that when the failure to advise about the possibility of an enhanced penalty is the only violation of Md. Rule 4~215(a), the appropriate remedy is a new sentencing proceeding at which the State is prohibited from seeking an enhanced penalty. I therefore dissent from the holding that *60 the Respondent is entitled to a new trial rather than a new sentencing proceeding.

Judge ADKINS has authorized me to state that she joins this concurring and dissenting opinion.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

A word about cookies

We need a few to keep you signed in and the library working. The rest help us see which pages people use and where they get stuck. They stay off unless you say yes.