HAMILTON COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURT HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO CITY OF CINCINNATI : STATE OF OHIO : : : : : : : -vs________________________ DEFENDANT Case No. _________________ WAIVER OF COUNSEL American LegalNet, Inc. www.USCourtForms.com The judge has explained, and I understand that: 1. I have a constitutional right to have a lawyer for all proceedings in this case. 2. If I am unable to hire a private lawyer, the court will assign a lawyer from the public defender's office to represent me at no cost to me, even if I intend to plead guilty. 3. I have a right to a reasonable continuance in the proceedings to get a lawyer. The judge has warned me that although I am not required to have a lawyer, it may be foolhardy and a mistake for me to represent myself. There may be defenses to the charges against me that I am not aware of because I am not thoroughly trained in the law. I may be unaware of rights that would be to my advantage to assert, rights that I may lose if I do not assert them. On the other hand, I may have rights that would put me at a disadvantage if I assert them. I will be required to follow procedural and evidentiary rules that I may not know or understand. Regardless of what the police or prosecutors may have told me, they will seek to use these rules to their advantage to convict me. The judge is not permitted to give me any legal help or advice. The judge's job is only to see that the rules and the law are followed. The judge may not protect me from the consequences of not knowing the rules or the law or from asserting or not asserting my rights. Having been advised of my right to a lawyer and the potential negative consequences of representing myself, I nevertheless give up my right to be represented by a lawyer at the present time and choose to represent myself. I understand that I may change my mind at a later time and obtain a lawyer, but that it may be too late then for the lawyer to protect my interests. APPROVED AND FILED FOR JOURNALIZATION Date ________________ Date ________________ ______________________ __________________________ ENTERED Minute ___________ Defendant Judge/Magistrate CR2-11/02 American LegalNet, Inc. www.USCourtForms.com