Murder Defendant Requests to Represent Himself Due to Two Year Wait for Trial

By Ashleigh Joplin [former] - October 25, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects |

During reception court on Oct. 25 Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn scheduled a trial date for a Baltimore resident charged with attempted first-degree murder.

Defendant Michael Reed requested to represent himself numerous times to Judge Phinn during reception court on Tuesday, citing his frustration with the two-year delay in scheduling his trial date.

Reed is currently represented by defense attorney James Sweeting III, who was late to attend the hearing. Sweeting was assigned the case earlier that month and as of Oct. 11 had not received the discovery from the assistant state’s prosecutor.

Sweeting had told Judge Phinn at the Oct. 11 hearing that he had planned to talk with his client in the following two days with the expectation that the discovery would be sent to him by the end of the day. Phinn decided to continue the hearing until Oct. 25.

During the hearing on the Oct. 25, Sweeting and the prosecutor assigned to this case were still unavailable before April to try the case.

Reed is charged with attempted first-degree murder, second-degree murder, first-degree assault, use of a firearm in a felony violent crime, reckless endangerment, possession of a firearm as a minor, four counts of illegal possession of a regulated firearm, having a loaded handgun on his person, having a handgun on his person, discharging firearms, two counts of wearing or carrying or traveling with a handgun with 100 yards of a school or college and the illegal possession of ammo in connection with an incident on Nov. 24, 2020

Judge Phinn scheduled Reed’s trial to begin on April 19, 2023, before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa K. Copeland. Phinn informed Sweeney of his client’s wishes to represent himself and recommended that he consult with Reed.