People v. Thompson

ILLINOIS OFFICIAL REPORTS
Appellate Court
People v. Thompson, 2012 IL App (2d) 110396
Appellate Court THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.
Caption JOHN M. THOMPSON, Defendant-Appellant.
District & No. Second District
Docket No. 2-11-0396
Filed November 13, 2012
Held Defendant’s claim that his counsel was ineffective in failing to file a
(Note: This syllabus motion for dismissal on speedy-trial grounds was rejected where
constitutes no part of defendant did not make a demand for trial on the record pursuant to
the opinion of the court section 103-5(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure and the resulting
but has been prepared delays were deemed “agreed to” by defendant.
by the Reporter of
Decisions for the
convenience of the
reader.)
Decision Under Appeal from the Circuit Court of Du Page County, No. 10-DV-0816; the
Review Hon. Elizabeth W. Sexton, Judge, presiding.
Judgment Affirmed.
Counsel on John S. Young, of Mt. Prospect, for appellant.
Appeal
Robert B. Berlin, State’s Attorney, of Wheaton (Lisa A. Hoffman,
Assistant State’s Attorney, and Lawrence M. Bauer and Edward R.
Psenicka, both of State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor’s Office, of
counsel), for the People.
Panel JUSTICE HUTCHINSON delivered the judgment of the court, with
opinion.
Justices McLaren and Burke concurred in the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 In May 2010, the State charged defendant, John M. Thompson, with two counts of
domestic battery (720 ILCS 5/12-3.2(a)(1), (a)(2) (West 2010)), one count of battery (720
ILCS 5/12-3(a)(2) (West 2010)), and one count of resisting a peace officer (720 ILCS 5/31-1
(West 2010)), and defendant was released on bond. Thereafter, the State charged defendant
with an unrelated felony and defendant was taken back into custody. The State initially opted
to try the felony case first for speedy-trial purposes pursuant to section 103-5(a) of the Code
of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (the speedy-trial statute) (725 ILCS 5/103-5(a) (West 2010)).
Before bringing defendant to trial in either action, however, the State changed its election and
brought defendant to trial in the current matter first for the purposes of a speedy trial. A jury
found defendant guilty of resisting a peace officer, and the trial court sentenced defendant
to time served. Defendant now appeals his conviction, contending that he was denied the
effective assistance of counsel because his trial counsel did not file a motion to dismiss the
charges on the basis that the State failed to bring him to trial within the speedy-trial term. We
affirm.
¶2 I. Background
¶3 The record reflects that, on May 26, 2010, the State charged defendant with two
misdemeanor counts of domestic battery, one misdemeanor count of battery, and one
misdemeanor count of resisting a peace officer. Defendant posted bond and was released
from custody.
¶4 On August 10, 2010, the State charged defendant with an unrelated felony. Defendant
was taken back into custody. On August 30, 2010, the trial court in this case exonerated
defendant’s bond nunc pro tunc as of August 11, 2010. At the August 30 hearing, defense
counsel advised the trial court, “I’m not demanding a speedy trial in this case because it
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would elect on the felony [case]. *** It’s just purely for credit.” The trial court noted that the
speedy-trial term was tolled.
¶5 On September 9, 2010, pursuant to the State’s motion, the trial court continued the matter
until November 29, 2010. At the September 9 hearing, defense counsel advised the trial court
that, “even though [the speedy-trial] term is not running, we would object for the record.”
¶6 On November 29, 2010, defendant answered ready for trial. The State advised the trial
court that “there was some confusion” regarding the running of the speedy-trial term. After
a short recess to confer with colleagues in the felony division, the State informed the trial
court that the State was electing to proceed on the felony case first for the purposes of a
speedy trial. The State further stated that, “if there is a [speedy-trial] issue on this, it would
be tolled pursuant to our election.” Defense counsel expressed her concern that, although the
State was electing to proceed on the felony case first, that case did not have a trial date set.
Defense counsel noted that, without a trial date being set in the felony case, this matter could
be extended indefinitely. Defense counsel advised the trial court that “[t]here are [speedy-
trial] issues, and I would ask that [the term] run until we have a definite answer or [the felony
case is] set for trial.” The State advised the trial court that defendant was agreeing to toll the
speedy-trial term in the felony case and that there was “nothing we can do to force them to
have the trial.” Defense counsel responded:
“As long as [the State is] actually electing on that and that there are plans to have that set
for trial, and that [the continuances in the felony trial] were on defendant’s motion, then
I would have no issue with that.”
¶7 On February 9, 2011, the State advised the trial court that a date for defendant’s felony
trial had still not been set. The State advised the trial court that, “to avoid any argument that
there has to be a trial date set in one of the two cases,” the State would change its original
decision and elect to try defendant’s misdemeanor case first. Defendant filed a speedy-trial
demand on that date. The trial court concluded that defendant’s speedy-trial term in the
misdemeanor case would begin to run on February 9, 2011. Defendant’s trial occurred on
April 6, 2011, and a jury found defendant guilty of resisting a peace officer. Defendant timely
appealed.
¶8 II. Discussion
¶9 The only issue in this appeal is whether defendant was denied the effective assistance of
counsel because his trial counsel neglected to file a motion to dismiss on the basis that the
State did not bring defendant to trial within the speedy-trial term. In support of this
contention, defendant argues that, once the State changed its original decision and elected
to try the misdemeanor case first for the purposes of a speedy trial, the State was required to
bring him to trial within 120 days of the date he was taken into custody absent any delays
attributable to him. Because he was taken into custody on August 10, 2010, and not brought
to trial until April 6, 2011, defendant argues that the State failed to do so. Therefore,
defendant maintains that a motion to dismiss on speedy-trial grounds would have been
successful, and his trial counsel was ineffective for not bringing a motion. The State counters
that it changed its original decision to elect defendant’s felony case first after defendant’s
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trial counsel in this case voiced her concerns that a trial date for the felony charge had not
been set and that the charges in this case could remain pending indefinitely. Therefore, the
State maintains that it gave defense counsel what she requested and, as a result, defense
counsel was not ineffective for failing to file a motion to dismiss pursuant to the speedy-trial
statute.
¶ 10 A defendant’s right to the effective assistance of counsel is provided by the sixth and
fourteenth amendments to the United States Constitution. People v. Angarola, 387 Ill. App.
3d 732, 735 (2009) (citing U.S. Const., amends. VI, XIV). To succeed on a claim of
ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must satisfy the two-prong test set forth in
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). To satisfy the first prong, the defendant must
show that his trial counsel’s performance was deficient because the representation fell below
an objective standard of reasonableness. People v. Harris, 206 Ill. 2d 1, 16 (2002). To meet
the second prong, the defendant must demonstrate prejudice by showing that there is a
reasonable probability that, but for trial counsel’s errors, the result of the proceeding would
have been different. Id. “The failure of counsel to argue a speedy-trial violation cannot satisfy
either prong of Strickland where there is no lawful basis for arguing a speedy-trial violation.”
People v. Cordell, 223 Ill. 2d 380, 385 (2006). Thus, we must first determine whether
defendant’s speedy-trial rights were violated before assessing whether defendant’s trial
counsel was effective. See id.
¶ 11 A defendant possesses both a constitutional and a statutory right to a speedy trial. U.S.
Const., amends. VI, XIV; Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, § 8; 725 ILCS 5/103-5(a) (West 2010).
Although these provisions address similar concerns, the rights they establish are not
coextensive. People v. Woodrum, 223 Ill. 2d 286, 298 (2006). We note that, in this case,
defendant asserts only a violation of his statutory right to a speedy trial, and has not raised
a constitutional issue. See id.
¶ 12 Section 103-5(a) of the speedy-trial statute provides:
“Every person in custody in this State for an alleged offense shall be tried by the court
having jurisdiction within 120 days from the date [the defendant] was taken into custody
unless delay is occasioned by the defendant ***. Delay shall be considered to be agreed
to by the defendant unless he or she objects to the delay by making a written demand for
trial or an oral demand for trial on the record.” 725 ILCS 5/103-5(a) (West 2010).
When a defendant remains in custody, the 120-day statutory period begins to run
automatically and the defendant does not need to make a formal demand for a speedy trial.
People v. Castillo, 372 Ill. App. 3d 11, 16 (2007). “[P]roof of a violation requires only that
the defendant has not been tried within the period set by the statute and that the defendant
has not caused or contributed to the delays.” Id. A delay is charged to the defendant when his
or her acts caused or contributed to the delay that resulted in postponing the trial. Id.
¶ 13 Defendant’s argument that a speedy-trial motion would have been successful is premised
on his theory that, once the State changed its election and decided to bring him to trial in this
matter before the felony matter, the speedy-trial clock “related back” to the date he was taken
into custody. In other words, according to defendant, the speedy-trial clock in this case was
not tolled when the State originally elected to bring him to trial on the felony charge first.
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¶ 14 In People v. Kliner, 185 Ill. 2d 81 (1998), a jury convicted the defendant of two counts
of first-degree murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. Id. at 98. On appeal,
the defendant argued that the trial court erred by denying his motions to dismiss based on a
speedy-trial violation. Id. at 113. The defendant premised his speedy-trial argument, in part,
on a delay between July 19, 1995, and January 25, 1996. Id. at 123. That delay occurred
when the State changed its original election to bring the defendant to trial first on the murder
charges, and instead opted to bring the defendant to trial first on unrelated armed violence
charges. Id.
¶ 15 The supreme court rejected the defendant’s argument. Id. The supreme court noted that,
when a defendant is simultaneously in custody for more than one charge, the State is required
to bring the defendant to trial on one of those charges within 120 days of arrest and must try
the defendant on the remaining charge within 160 days from the rendering of judgment on
the first charge. Id. (citing 725 ILCS 5/103-5(e) (West 1994)). The supreme court concluded
that, “[b]ecause the State here announced on June 5, 1995, its decision to proceed to trial first
on the armed violence charges, the State was required to bring [the] defendant to trial on
those charges within 120 days given that defendant was in custody on those charges. The
speedy-trial period with respect to the murder case was therefore tolled from June 5, 1995,
until judgment was rendered on the armed violence charges.” Id. at 123-24. The supreme
court further rejected the defendant’s argument that the State engaged in subterfuge by
changing its election and deciding to proceed on the armed violence charges first. Id. at 124.
The supreme court reasoned:
“We first point out that the State is not precluded from changing its election. [Citations.]
If the law were to the contrary, a defendant could decide which charge should be tried
first by challenging a prosecutor’s legitimate reason for changing his election.” Id.
¶ 16 Pursuant to Kliner, we reject defendant’s argument that, here, the speedy-trial clock
related back to the date he was taken into custody once the State changed its election and
decided to bring him to trial in the misdemeanor matter first. The Kliner court noted that the
State had a right to change its election, and once the State did so on June 5, 1995, the speedy-
trial clock in the murder case tolled. Id. at 123-24. We recognize, as defendant points out,
that in Kliner the State originally opted to bring the defendant to trial on the murder charges
first, then changed its election and brought the defendant to trial on the armed violence
charges first, and that the defendant’s speedy-trial argument on appeal stemmed from the
second trial. Conversely, in this case, defendant’s appeal stems from the first matter to
proceed to trial. We find this distinction insignificant. To conclude otherwise would be to
hold that the speedy-trial clock is not tolled in either matter when the State makes its initial
election, but pursuant to Kliner the speedy-trial clock is tolled in one case when the State
changes its original election, absent subterfuge. The more logical application of Kliner is to
hold that the speedy-trial clock is tolled in the unelected matter when the State initially elects
to bring a defendant to trial first on unrelated charges, and the speedy-trial clock is also tolled
if the State changes its original election, absent subterfuge.
¶ 17 In this case, regardless of the State’s changing its election, defendant’s speedy-trial rights
were not violated, because he agreed to the delays between August 11, 2010, and February
9, 2011. Section 103-5(a), which applies here because defendant was in custody (see People
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v. Murray, 379 Ill. App. 3d 153, 158 (2008) (distinguishing sections 103-5(a) and 103-5(b))),
expressly provides that a defendant is considered to have “agreed” to a delay unless he or she
“objects to the delay by making a written demand for trial or an oral demand for trial on the
record.” 725 ILCS 5/103-5(a) (West 2010). Defendant made no such objections when his
case was delayed at the September 9, 2010, and November 29, 2010, hearings. Therefore,
because defendant agreed to the delays, he contributed to the postponement of his trial. The
speedy-trial clock was tolled between August 11, 2010, and February 9, 2011, when the
clock began to run again pursuant to defendant’s demand for a speedy trial. See Murray, 379
Ill. App. 3d at 158 (noting that any delay occasioned by the defendant tolls the speedy-trial
clock until the expiration of the delay, at which point the clock begins to run again).
¶ 18 We find support for our determination in Murray. In that case, the defendant, who was
in custody, argued that trial delays between October 11, 2005, and November 14, 2005, were
not attributable to him, because he objected to the delays and stated that he was ready for
trial. Id. at 159-60. Specifically, on October 11, 2005, the defendant objected to the State’s
request for a continuance, and the trial court’s order noted that the trial court granted the
continuance “ ‘over [the defendant’s] objection.’ ” Id. at 156. When the State requested an
additional continuance on October 12, 2005, the defendant’s attorney answered that the
defendant was ready for trial. Id. The trial court continued the matter until October 27, 2005,
but again noted that the continuance was over the defendant’s objection. Id. At an October
26, 2005, hearing, the State advised the trial court that it would not be ready for trial on
October 27, and the defendant again advised the trial court that he was ready for trial. Id. at
156-57. However, the defendant’s attorney did not make a demand for trial or reference
charging the time to the State. Id. at 157. The trial court continued the matter until November
14, 2005, at which point the State sought an additional continuance. Id. The trial court
granted the continuance, but released the defendant from custody, with restrictions. Id.
Thereafter, the defendant was convicted of possession of a controlled substance with intent
to deliver. Id.
¶ 19 On appeal, we rejected the defendant’s argument that the delay between October 26,
2005, and November 14, 2005, was not attributable to him. We began our analysis by noting
that “[t]here is little case law interpreting what constitutes an ‘oral demand for trial’ for
purposes of section 103-5(a).” Id. at 160. Referring to section 103-5(b), the companion
provision that applies to defendants released on bond, we concluded that, although section
103-5(a) did not require a formal demand, it did “require an objection to a delay by making
a demand for trial either in writing or on the record.” Id. at 161. We held that, on October 26,
2005, the defendant did not make a sufficient oral demand for trial. Rather, the defendant’s
attorney merely stated a readiness for trial and objected to the delay “but did not specifically
ask for a trial or use language that would reference the speedy-trial statute.” Id. Thus, we
concluded that “[s]tating a readiness for trial and adamantly objecting to a delay are not
sufficient to affirmatively invoke the speedy-trial right.” Id. We further opined, “[i]n the
absence of language clearly showing an intent to invoke the speedy-trial statute and without
a specific finding by the trial court, there is not an affirmative and unambiguous request for
a speedy trial on the record.” Id.
¶ 20 Murray is instructive here. At the August 30, 2010, hearing, defendant did not demand
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trial; his counsel expressly advised the trial court that she was not “demanding a speedy trial
in this case.” Similarly, at the September 9, 2010, hearing, defense counsel objected to the
State’s continuance “for the record.” However, while making the objection “for the record,”
defense counsel acknowledged that the speedy-trial term was not running, and defendant did
not request trial. Finally, at the November 29, 2010, hearing, defense counsel merely
expressed her concerns that a trial date in defendant’s felony case had not yet been set and
that defendant could remain in custody indefinitely. Defense counsel further advised the trial
court that defendant was “ready for trial on this case,” but also advised the trial court that she
would have “no [speedy-trial] issue” so long as the State elected to try the felony case first,
there were plans to have that trial, and the continuances in the felony case were on
defendant’s motion.
¶ 21 As we concluded in Murray, merely answering ready for trial and objecting to a
continuance is not a sufficient demand under section 103-5(a) of the speedy-trial statute. See
id. Here, although defendant objected “for the record” on September 9, 2010, defendant did
not make a demand for trial on the record but, rather, expressly acknowledged that the
speedy-trial term was not running. In addition, on November 29, 2010, although defense
counsel answered ready for trial, expressed concern because a trial date had not been set in
the felony case, and requested that the delay be charged against the speedy-trial term, she also
acknowledged that there would not be a speedy-trial issue so long as the State elected to try
the felony case first and the continuances in that case were on defendant’s motion. With such
an acknowledgment, defendant could not have made an affirmative and unambiguous
demand for trial on the record. See id.
¶ 22 In sum, because defendant did not make a sufficient demand for trial on the record
pursuant to section 103-5(a) between August 10, 2010, and February 9, 2011, those delays
are considered “agreed to” by defendant. 725 ILCS 5/103-5(a) (West 2010). Accordingly, his
claim of ineffective assistance of counsel necessarily fails because a motion by defense
counsel for a dismissal on speedy-trial grounds would have been futile. See Cordell, 223 Ill.
2d at 392-93.
¶ 23 III. Conclusion
¶ 24 For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Du Page County.
¶ 25 Affirmed.
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