PSSSST Mommy was right there! She has worked around courts long enough to have a clue.Her bet was wrong.
Child, 16 yr old convicted car thief standing up in court saying "I need another lawyer cause the lawyer mommy hired LOST MY CRIMINAL CASE! I didnt do nuthin wrong 'cept get caught stealing a car or two.Lawyers have to deal with courts, not convicted car thiefs.I just a child! I had no idea stealing was illegal! Someone got to help me! I need another lawyer! Where Jesse?!"
The kid asked for a lawyer, and no judge has the right to deny him that.
These technicalities you so blithely are willing to ignore are what keeps our system from being the rubber-stamp that the old Soviet trial system was.
Says the Constitution:
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Look, I'm generally what could be characterized as a "law-and-order" type. I think criminals deserve what they get-- but the system needs all its checks in place to prevent innocents from being railroaded. And if those systems mean a few guilty get off, so be it. God will deal with them