People v. Adams

50 N.E.3d 738

401 Ill.Dec. 596

The PEOPLE of the State of Illinois, Plaintiff–Appellee

v.Willie ADAMS, Defendant–Appellant.

No. 1–14–1135.

Appellate Court of Illinois, First District, Second Division.

March 15, 2016.

Michael J. Pelletier, Patricia Mysza, and Benjamin A. Wolowski, all of State Appellate Defender's Office, Chicago, for appellant.

Anita M. Alvarez, State's Attorney, Chicago (Alan Spellberg, Jon Walters, and Justin R. Kordys, Assistant State's Attorneys, of counsel), for the People.

OPINION

Justice HYMAN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.

¶ 1 Defendant Willie Adams, charged with delivery of a controlled substance, requested on the day set for a bench trial that the case be continued so he could retain private counsel. Adams had been indicted 70 days before the request. Adams now contends the ruling violated his sixth amendment right to have the counsel of his choice. He also challenges the amount of fees and fines imposed by the trial court.

¶ 2 We conclude the trial court abused its discretion in denying Adams' request for a continuance to substitute counsel of his choice, and accordingly, reverse and remand for a new trial. As to the public defender fee, the hearing held by the trial court was inadequate and, under People v. Somers, 2013 IL 114054, 368 Ill.Dec. 525, 984 N.E.2d 471, we vacate the fee and remand for a proper hearing in compliance with section 113–3.1(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (725 ILCS 5/1133.1(a) (West 2012)). Given our disposition, we need not address Adams' challenge to the methamphetamine-related assessments imposed by the trial court, or his claim to presentence custody credit against his fines.

¶ 3 BACKGROUND

¶ 4 Adams was charged by indictment with delivery of heroin, a controlled substance. At his arraignment, the trial court appointed an assistant public defender to represent him. Only 70 days later, Adams appeared before the trial court for a bench trial. After the State answered ready, Adams addressed the trial court:

“THE DEFENDANT: Your Honor, may I say something?

THE COURT: Well, you have an attorney but—

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: It's over my advice.

THE COURT: Go ahead, Mr. Adams.

THE DEFENDANT: I was asking could I get a continuance to get me a private attorney?

THE COURT: Mr. Adams, here is the whole thing. If this wasn't the day of trial, then you would have a right to do that. But this is the day of trial and everybody is here. So your request is denied.

THE DEFENDANT: Sir, he represented me, sir. He didn't let me know anything, sir. That's why really I asked, sir.

THE COURT: I understand that, but here is the whole thing; this is set with. The officers are here. And I'm denying your motion for continuance to get a private attorney. So thank you.”

¶ 5 At the close of trial, the trial court found Adams guilty of delivery of a controlled substance. Afterwards, Adams filed pro se a “Motion for Reconsideration of Finding of Guilty,” arguing, among other issues, that the trial court should have granted a continuance so he could secure counsel of his choice. At the first court date after trial, a private attorney appeared on Adams' behalf and the public defender withdrew. The private attorney requested time to obtain transcripts, and the trial court continued the case. At the next court date, the private attorney obtained leave to withdraw due to a conflict of interest between Adams and himself. Adams informed the trial court that he was going to try to hire another attorney. In continuing the case, the trial court stated, “[I]f you don't get an attorney, then you have a constitutional right to go by yourself.”

¶ 6 But the next time in court, Adams did not have an attorney and asked the trial court to appoint an attorney other than his previous public defender. Although the trial judge turned down this request, the case was held over for several days to determine whether Adams had been able to hire a lawyer. Eventually, Adams agreed to have his original public defender represent him.

¶ 7 Defense counsel filed an amended motion for a new trial which included a challenge to the trial court's denial of Adams' request on the day of trial for time to obtain a private attorney. The motion was denied.

¶ 8 At sentencing, the trial court found Adams subject to mandatory Class X sentencing based on his criminal history and sentenced him to seven years and six months in prison. The trial court denied a motion to reconsider sentence.

¶ 9 Immediately following the sentencing, the State informed the trial court that it had filed a motion for reimbursement of attorney fees. In response, the trial court asked the public defender how many times he had appeared. After the public defender answered that this was his seventh appearance, the court ruled, “All right. $200 would be appropriate. You also went to trial on this.” The trial court also imposed $1,779 in other fines, fees, and costs.

¶ 10 ANALYSIS

¶ 11 Request for Continuance to Retain Private Counsel

¶ 12 Adams asserts that in denying his request for a continuance so he could retain private counsel, the trial court deprived him of his sixth amendment right to counsel. Adams argues his request was not unreasonable because (i) Adams had been indicted just 70 days before the day of trial, (ii) Adams' bench trial was held on the 61st day after arraignment, and (iii) Adams had been in custody since his arrest, which limited his opportunities to seek and obtain new counsel. Adams asserts that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to conduct any investigation into the reasons he requested to hire a different attorney or whether he could do so within a reasonable amount of time.

¶ 13 The United States and the State of Illinois Constitutions guarantee criminal defendants the right to retain counsel of their choice. U.S. Const., amend. VI ; Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, § 8. But, that right is not absolute and cannot be used to “ ‘thwart the administration of justice, or to otherwise embarrass the effective prosecution of crime.’ ” People v. Bingham, 364 Ill.App.3d 642, 645, 301 Ill.Dec. 893, 847 N.E.2d 903 (2006) (quoting People v. Solomon, 24 Ill.2d 586, 590, 182 N.E.2d 736 (1962) ). Accordingly, a court must balance a defendant's right to choose his or her counsel against the need for efficient and effective administration of justice. Id. This balancing requires the trial court to inquire into the reasons for the dissatisfaction to determine the request's legitimacy. Id. Factors the trial court should consider include (i) defendant's articulation of an acceptable reason for desiring new counsel, (ii) defendant's continuous custody, (iii) defendant's efforts in obtaining new counsel, (iv) defendant's cooperation with current counsel, and (v) the length of time current counsel represented defendant. People v. Tucker, 382 Ill.App.3d 916, 920, 321 Ill.Dec. 468, 889 N.E.2d 733 (2008).

¶ 14 The determination whether to grant or deny a continuance for substitution of counsel falls within the trial court's discretion and will be overturned only for an abuse of discretion. People v. Segoviano, 189 Ill.2d 228, 245, 244 Ill.Dec. 388, 725 N.E.2d 1275 (2000). See also Morris v. Slappy, 461 U.S. 1, 11–12, 103 S.Ct. 1610, 75 L.Ed.2d 610 (1983) (stating that “broad discretion must be granted trial courts on matters of continuances; only an unreasoning and arbitrary ‘insistence upon expeditiousness in the face of a justifiable request for delay’ violates the right to the assistance of counsel” (quoting Ungar v. Sarafite, 376 U.S. 575, 598, 84 S.Ct. 841, 11 L.Ed.2d 921 (1964) )).

¶ 15 Factors to be considered by a reviewing court in evaluating a trial court's exercise of discretion include (i) defendant's diligence, (ii) defendant's right to a speedy, fair, and impartial trial, and (iii) interests of justice. Segoviano, 189 Ill.2d at 245, 244 Ill.Dec. 388, 725 N.E.2d 1275. Generally, a trial court will not be found to have abused its discretion in denying a motion for substitution of counsel in the absence of ready and willing substitute counsel. Id. But, even where new counsel is not identified, reversal of a trial court's denial of a continuance is warranted where the trial court fails to inquire into whether defendant is using the request as a delaying tactic. People v. Basler, 304 Ill.App.3d 230, 232–33, 237 Ill.Dec. 801, 710 N.E.2d 431 (1999), aff'd as modified on other grounds, 193 Ill.2d 545, 251 Ill.Dec. 171, 740 N.E.2d 1 (2000). So fundamental is a defendant's right to a counsel of his or her choosing that its erroneous denial requires automatic reversal of a conviction without regard to harmless-error or prejudice analysis. Bingham, 364 Ill.App.3d at 645–50, 301 Ill.Dec. 893, 847 N.E.2d 903.

¶ 16 We find the trial court abused its discretion in denying Adams' motion for a continuance to retain private counsel. The trial court focused on only two circumstances in denying Adams' request—that it was made on the day of trial, and the presence in court of the State's two witnesses, both police officers. While these factors support the trial court's decision, the trial court's utter failure to make any kind of inquiry into Adams' request outweighs those considerations. See Tucker, 382 Ill.App.3d at 923, 321 Ill.Dec. 468, 889 N.E.2d 733 (“we focus on the trial court's failure to inquire more thoroughly into defendant's request”); Basler, 304 Ill.App.3d at 233, 237 Ill.Dec. 801, 710 N.E.2d 431 (finding abuse of discretion where trial court rejected defendant's motion for continuance without inquiring about the circumstances or finding she presented motion merely to delay her trial).

¶ 17 The trial court made no inquiry at all into either Adams' reasons for wanting new counsel or any efforts Adams may have made toward that end. Although this failure by itself would justify reversal, we also note that when Adams made his request, the case had been pending for only 70 days, no prior continuances had been filed, and he had been in...