19.2-157 - Duty of court when accused appears without counsel.
§ 19.2-157. Duty of court when accused appears without counsel.
Except as may otherwise be provided in §§ 16.1-266 through 16.1-268, whenevera person charged with a criminal offense the penalty for which may be deathor confinement in the state correctional facility or jail, including chargesfor revocation of suspension of imposition or execution of sentence orprobation, appears before any court without being represented by counsel, thecourt shall inform him of his right to counsel. The accused shall be alloweda reasonable opportunity to employ counsel or, if appropriate, the statementof indigence provided for in § 19.2-159 may be executed.
(Code 1950, §§ 19.1-241.1, 19.1-241.7; 1964, c. 657; 1966, c. 460; 1973, c.316; 1975, c. 495; 1978, c. 362.)