GA 17-7-24 - GA 17-7-24

JUDICIAL DECISIONS Right to employ retained counsel. - Due process requirements guarantee to a defendant unable to employ counsel the right to have counsel appointed by the court, but no less do the requirements entitle an accused who is able to employ counsel a reasonable opportunity to obtain representation of the accused's choice, and the accused is not compelled to accept court appointed defenders instead of an attorney in whom the accused reposes greater confidence merely to speed the accused's trial by a day or two. Foote v. State, 136 Ga. App. 301 , 220 S.E.2d 786 (1975). Denial of right to counsel of own choice. - Improper denial of the defendant's right to be represented by counsel of the defendant's own choosing is violative of Ga. Const. 1976, Art. I, Sec. I, Para. XI (see Ga. C...