Judges generally think it’s a horrible idea for anyone to try to defend themselves in any case, but especially in a criminal case, because of the potential ramifications for the defendant, both short-term and long-term. Among the possible repercussions in the short term can include imprisonment, fines or other penalties that may be imposed by a judge, while the long-term ramifications include convictions and permanent blemishes and problems on your record that will always come up in background checks and make your life a lot more difficult.

When a defendant hasn’t been advised properly with regard to the nature and extent of the consequences for pleading guilty, the judge is reticent to mete out the necessary justice as he or she sees fit, which can include prison time or any other punishment they feel meets the seriousness of the crime, and they will make the defendant hire an attorney. That can and does irritate some people who believe they can defend themselves, but the possibility of jail time is so real that judges become concerned for the defendant.