Judge’s warning: “You will be your own Perry Mason”

An Oconee criminal court defendant who failed to qualify for a public defender received a warning from the judge that he’ll need to save money from his job to retain a private attorney and be prepared next month when his case is called in court.  Judge McIntosh in the county General Sessions Courtroom this morning was ready to consider the case of John Louis Gladney, charged with stolen gun possession.  Gladney told the judge he was turned down for a public defender because he made too much money to qualify for a free lawyer.  At that, McIntosh re-scheduled the case to the July 25 term at which, he warned, the defendant to have his attorney in place or be relegated to representing himself or, as the judge put it, “You will be your own Perry Mason.”