FARMINGTON – Franklin County Superior Court Justice Michaela Murphy on Tuesday gave a Jay man three weeks to hire an attorney or prepare to represent himself in his 17-month-old case.

Court-appointed attorney George Hess requested to withdraw from representing Jonathan J. Nurse, 34, accused of breaking into a Wilton woman’s apartment and beating her in May 2007, shortly after his release from state prison. Nurse is charged with burglary, domestic assault, obstructing the reporting of a crime, simple assault and probation violation, according to a Franklin County jail officer.

“You’ve had a number of attorneys in Franklin County and shouldn’t represent yourself, but we’re running out of attorneys. This has been going on for some time,” Murphy told him.

Jury selection had been due to begin Friday, Oct. 10.

Nurse had previously indicated that he did not want a court-appointed lawyer. Currently an inmate at the state prison in Warren, Nurse told the court he wanted a lawyer closer to Warren.

The justice told him the court could not appoint lawyers outside the county.

“I can’t afford the $10,000 cash bail and have no money to hire an attorney, so I’m being forced to accept a lawyer or represent myself,” he said while arguing and swearing that jury selection “won’t happen Friday.”

Nurse said he expects his time in prison to be over soon, and said he could make money out on the streets to pay for a lawyer.

“This is going to be resolved this month,” Murphy told him, suggesting that Hess could withdraw but not be released completely. She urged Nurse to talk with Hess, who would be available for consultation during trial if he represents himself.

After a recess, Murphy gave Nurse until Oct. 28 to either hire a lawyer or represent himself with Hess on standby to assist him with jury selection.

She also granted a motion to suppress any statements he made after police used a stun gun to subdue him during the May 2007 incident.

More than 30 motions have been filed in the case since May 2007, Nurse told her, indicating that three weeks wasn’t long enough for him to get ready.

“It’s not legal or due process,” he said. “Where’s the justice in that?”