If DDM isn't able to secure an attorney on her own (no money or no one will represent her, whatever reason) would the court appoint an attorney? Was it ever said why/if the 2nd (I think it was the 2nd attorney) dropped her or the circumstance that led her to not having an attorney? Lastly, is it possible that the hearing (posted above by ACandyRose) on 3/11 could result in a 'court appointed attorney' being assigned?
Sorry for not understanding protocol in the works of the court system.
Thanks for all the work you all are doing here. Not commenting as often, but still following closely. Praying for justice.
The Sixth Amendment to the US Constitution states that every person has a right to an attorney and if they can't afford one then the court will appoint one for them for their defense. So nobody accused of a crime in the US ever goes to court without legal representation.
It looks like she's already been appointed a public defender so this court hearing could be just a status hearing to introduce the new attorney to the courts and reschedule a new court date for whatever else they have to do.
But once she *officially* has an attorney, then odds are that attorney is going to request discovery materials from the prosecution so the defense can find out what materials the prosecution has. Under Florida Sunshine Law, once that discovery is requested and released to her attorney, then it's released to the public as well.
I'm not sure how and when Hillsborough County will do it, but following the Caylee Anthony case (In Orange County), where over 12,000 public discovery documents have already been released, it was usually a week or so after Casey Anthony's attorney got the discovery before the media or public was also allowed access to the same docments. The media in Orange County has been right on top of providing public docments on that case.
But then on the flip side, on the Billings murder case (in Escambia County), those prosecutors release the first discovery documents right away, although it's been slow going after that and for some reason the media in that county appears to be dragging their feet to provide continued public documents.
I am so hoping the media in both Polk County and Hillsborough County are on top of making the discovery documents available to the public. But anybody local can also go to the court house in Tampa and pick up public released discovery documents once they're available.
Sorry, I know this is more than you asked.
ACR