Byron Kareen Coast v. State

• Court: Court of Appeals of Georgia
• Decided: March 11, 2016
• Docket: A16D0255
• Status: Published

Opinion

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia

ATLANTA,____________________ March 02, 2016

The Court of Appeals hereby passes the following order:

A16D0255. BYRON KAREEN COAST v. THE STATE.

Byron Kareen Coast pled guilty to possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. He was represented by an attorney during the plea, and his attorney subsequently filed a motion to withdraw the plea, which is pending below. In the meantime, Coast filed a pro se application for discretionary appeal in the Supreme Court, which transferred it to us. We lack jurisdiction to consider Coast’s application. A criminal defendant does not have the right to represent himself while also being represented by an attorney. See Tolbert v. Toole, 296 Ga. 357, 361-363 (3) (767 SE2d 24) (2014); Jacobsen v. Haldi, 210 Ga. App. 817, 818-819 (1) (437 SE2d 819) (1993). The record indicates that Coast is still represented by counsel. Accordingly, his pro se application for discretionary appeal is a nullity, see id., and this application is hereby DISMISSED.

Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia 03/02/2016 Clerk’s Office, Atlanta,____________________ I certify that the above is a true extract from the minutes of the Court of Appeals of Georgia. Witness my signature and the seal of said court hereto affixed the day and year last above written.

, Clerk.