State v. Jastrow, 237 N.C.App. 325, 764 S.E.2d 663 (Nov. 18, 2014)

The trial court did not err by allowing the defendant to waive his right to counsel and proceed pro se. Notwithstanding the defendant’s refusal to acknowledge that he was subject to court’s jurisdiction, the trial court was able to conduct a colloquy that complied with G.S. 15A-1242. The court reminded trial judges, however, that “our Supreme Court has approved a series of 14 questions that can be used to satisfy the requirements of Section 15A-1242.” “[B]est practice,” it continued “is for trial courts to use the 14 questions . . . which are set out in the Superior Court Judges’ Benchbook provided by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Government.”