Medley v. Warden

149 A.2d 915, 219 Md. 688, 1959 Md. LEXIS 402

Opinion

Per Curiam.

In this application for leave to appeal under the Post Conviction Procedure Act, Code (1958 Supp.), Art. 27, secs. 645A et seq., it appears that counsel was not appointed in the lower court. The petitioner did not, in express terms, request the appointment of counsel, but his affidavit that he was a pauper, which was not controverted, also asserted that he had no funds “wherewith to provide for any or any part of legal assistance for his defence”. We think this falls short of a showing that the petitioner “voluntarily and intelligently” waived the right to counsel, as suggested in Byrd v. Warden of the Maryland Penitentiary, 219 Md. 681, 147 A. 2d 701. In the absence of express waiver, counsel must be appointed in every case where the petitioner is without funds, for the reasons stated in Hobbs v. Warden of Maryland Penitentiary, 219 Md. 684, 686, 148 A. 2d 380, 382.

Application for leave to appeal granted, and case remanded for further proceedings.