Harig v. Johns-Manville Products Corp‪.‬

Petitioner was brought before the Circuit Court for Harford County on 18 April 1985, charged with a violation of probation by having failed to report for alcohol abuse counseling. The trial judge did not conduct the waiver inquiry required by Md.Rule 4-215 and the hearing proceeded without Petitioner having the benefit of counsel. A representative of the Division of Probation and Parole testified concerning Petitioners sporadic attendance at the alcohol clinic to which he had been assigned, and Petitioner offered an unsworn statement of explanation for his absences and a plea for mercy. Near the conclusion of the proceeding, the probation officer advised the court that a charge of "driving while suspended" was pending against the Petitioner in that court and would be heard on May 30, 1985. Thereupon, the trial judge said: