People v. Duff

ILLINOIS OFFICIAL REPORTS
Appellate Court
People v. Duff, 2012 IL App (5th) 100479
Appellate Court THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.
Caption WILLIAM C. DUFF, Contemnor-Appellant.–THE PEOPLE OF THE
STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. WILLIAM C. DUFF,
Contemnor-Appellant.
District & No. Fifth District
Docket Nos. 5-10-0479, 5-10-0501 cons.
Filed June 18, 2012
Held In proceedings arising from a hearing on a visitation issue in a marital
(Note: This syllabus dissolution case and a request for an order of protection, the convictions
constitutes no part of for direct criminal contempt entered against defendant based on his
the opinion of the court conduct in the courtroom were reversed and the cause was remanded for
but has been prepared a hearing to determine whether defendant suffered from a mental illness
by the Reporter of that affected his ability to form the requisite intent to commit direct
Decisions for the criminal contempt.
convenience of the
reader.)
Decision Under Appeal from the Circuit Court of Fayette County, Nos. 10-CC-1, 10-CC-
Review 2; the Hon. S. Gene Schwarm, Judge, presiding.
Judgment Reversed and remanded.
Counsel on Michael J. Pelletier, Johannah B. Weber, and John H. Gleason, all of
Appeal State Appellate Defender’s Office, of Mt. Vernon, for appellant.
Steve Friedel, State’s Attorney, of Vandalia (Patrick Delfino, Stephen E.
Norris, and Rebecca E. McCormick, all of State’s Attorneys Appellate
Prosecutor’s Office, of counsel), for the People.
Panel JUSTICE CHAPMAN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Justices Welch and Wexstten concurred in the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶1 The defendant appeals from two orders of contempt entered by the circuit court of Fayette
County. The orders of contempt stem from the defendant’s behavior during two hearings that
took place on September 7, 2010, and September 27, 2010. On appeal, the defendant asks
this court to reverse both orders, either on grounds that the evidence was insufficient to
support the findings of contempt or alternatively on the basis that his mental capacity to
commit contempt was an issue not addressed by the court and therefore the contempt orders
must be vacated.
¶2 FACTS
¶3 The hearings were related to a visitation issue in a marital dissolution case and a request
for an order of protection. The defendant represented himself at both hearings.
¶4 The first hearing on various pending motions was scheduled for September 7, 2010. The
first motion called at this hearing was the defendant’s motion to change venue. The
defendant filed a motion to change venue in both cases. His argument centered on his
perceived inability to get a fair trial with any judge in the Fourth Judicial Circuit. The
defendant made a lengthy statement to the court about claimed inequities in his life. The
court attempted to get the defendant to focus on arguments germane only to his motion for
a change of venue. In a statement on the record, the defendant blamed specific judges for
ruining his marriage and endangering his two children, alleging that the judges were allowing
his former in-laws to sexually molest his children and were covering up the evidence. He
interjected that President George W. Bush and State Senator Deanna Demuzio had confirmed
that these allegations needed to be addressed and investigated on a federal level. The
defendant spoke about how his mother had been murdered and how the Montgomery County
State’s Attorney was involved in a cover-up of the murder. He also stated that his father’s
car had been vandalized and that three fires had been set to his own property. At one point,
the trial judge asked the defendant to slow his rate of speech down because he was speaking
too fast for the court reporter to record everything that he said. The defendant informed the
-2-
court that he needed to file the “paperwork” from President Bush and Senator Demuzio. The
court told him to physically step back, and it denied his request to file these documents,
stating:
“Mr. Duff, let me advise you regarding direct criminal contempt of court. If you rise
again from your chair, and attempt to approach the bench, or if you raise your voice over
mine, I’m going to find you in contempt of court and order that you be incarcerated. Now
I want to make sure–and I think you know the rules we play by in this courtroom, but I
want to make sure you know that. And you’re not going to make a mockery of this
proceeding this morning. I’m going to give you the opportunity to be heard and you need
to keep your arguments germane to those motions. I’m not going to tolerate this behavior
in my courtroom. And you can hold your hands up–and let the record reflect he holds his
hands up as if he’s done nothing wrong. Mr. Duff, you’ve been in a courtroom before and
you know how to act properly. We show each other respect. I’m going to show you
respect, I’m going to listen to you. You’re going to show [Natalie Stout’s lawyer] and his
client respect, you’re going to show the Court, the Judge, respect, and this proceeding
respect.”
The court took a five-minute recess in order to allow the defendant time to calm down and
get his emotions under control. During the recess, the defendant filed a motion to recuse the
judge. In an attempt to clarify, the court asked the defendant if this was intended to be a
motion to substitute the judge for cause. The defendant responded in the affirmative. The
court asked the defendant several times why he filed the motion, and the defendant merely
repeated, “I think you know.” The court attempted to explain to the defendant that his motion
was faulty in that it was not signed and contained no affidavit. The exchange between the
defendant and the trial judge continued, with the record detailing the fact that the defendant
interrupted or spoke over the trial judge numerous times. The court noted on the record that
the defendant was highly agitated, fidgety, and moving around rapidly. The court also noted
that the defendant was making hand gestures and was being disrespectful. The court again
admonished the defendant of the rules associated with presence and decorum in the
courtroom. He was told that if he was unable to act in accordance with these rules, the court
would find him in contempt. The defendant then told the court that he suffered from a
hearing deficiency and that he could not hear the judge. The defendant threw his pen and a
pair of glasses on the counsel table. The court noted on the record that the defendant had
seemingly been able to hear and respond to direct questions up to that point in the hearing.
The court began to sum up the events of the morning. The defendant raised his hand and the
judge advised him to put his hand down. Then the defendant argued that he had a serious
heart condition which required medication. The defendant stated on the record that any
comments made by the trial judge describing his actions or demeanor in the courtroom were
inaccurate. The defendant advised the court that he had appealed every order of contempt
entered against him in the past, and if found in contempt that day, he would do so again.
¶5 The trial court found the defendant in criminal contempt of court by written order dated
September 7, 2010. As a sanction for his contempt, the court sentenced him to immediate
incarceration in the Fayette County jail for three days.
¶6 On September 27, 2010, the court revisited the visitation matter in the divorce case, as
-3-
well as the order of protection. The defendant began by filing a motion asking for evidence
to be heard on the matter of his hearing disability. The tenor of the hearing was similar to that
of the September 7, 2010, hearing. The defendant was again loud, argumentative, and
disruptive. The court instructed the defendant not to interrupt the proceedings. At one point,
the defendant told the judge that he was biased and was committing a federal crime. The
court repeatedly admonished the defendant to obey the court and act in a respectful manner.
The defendant largely ignored the court’s admonishments. From the descriptions stated by
the trial judge on the record, the defendant became highly agitated and began speaking
rapidly. At one point, the defendant began arguing with a witness, his ex-wife, Natalie Stout.
The court informed the defendant that he would not be allowed to make a mockery of the
court. The defendant accused the trial judge of wasting his time and endangering his children.
The trial judge took a recess and informed the defendant that if he continued to interrupt and
act out, he would have to hold him in contempt again. After the recess, the defendant
continued to act combatively with Natalie Stout. The trial judge indicated that he was
confused by the defendant’s behavior–extremely calm at times and very excitable at other
times. He asked the defendant if he had taken anger management classes before, and the
defendant acknowledged that he had done so. Ultimately, after more outbursts, the defendant
was again found in contempt of court and sentenced to 90 days of incarceration in the county
jail. The order of contempt was entered because of the defendant’s contemptuous behavior:
interrupting the court and opposing counsel, raising his voice inappropriately, using
disrespectful voice inflection, making disrespectful comments about the judge and the court,
using disruptive body language including shaking his head, waving his arms and getting out
of his chair, and refusing to remain silent when ordered to do so.
¶7 On October 5, 2010, the court called the parties back to the courtroom to discuss the
defendant’s desire to appeal from the contempt orders and about the appointment of appellate
counsel. One of the issues involved the appointment of a psychologist to evaluate the parties
and their children. Judge Schwarm stated on the record that he was no mental health
professional, and he stated the following about the defendant:
“[I]n my observations of you over these past few hearings, you obviously suffer from [a]
personality disorder, behavior disorder or some sort of mental illness, for you to act out
the way that you do here in open court. These concerns have been raised by your
children’s mother and these concerns have been raised by your children.”
At the conclusion of this hearing, the judge stayed, but did not vacate, the remainder of the
defendant’s contempt sentence. The court ordered the defendant released from jail.
¶8 From the criminal contempt orders of September 7, 2010, and September 27, 2010, the
defendant appeals to this court.
¶9 ISSUES, LAW, AND ANALYSIS
¶ 10 Contempt of court is classified as either civil or criminal. Criminal contempt of court is
conduct by an individual “which is calculated to embarrass, hinder, or obstruct the court in
its administration of justice or derogate from its authority or dignity, thereby bringing the
administration of law into disrepute.” People v. Sheahan, 150 Ill. App. 3d 572, 574, 502
-4-
N.E.2d 48, 50 (1986). The actions of the contemnor must be willful, as criminal contempt
requires intent. Id. “Intent or at least knowledge of the nature of one’s act is a necessary
element of contempt because contempt requires some form of construction or actual
knowledge of what conduct is forbidden.” Id. (citing In re Watts, 66 Ill. App. 3d 971, 974,
384 N.E.2d 453, 455 (1978)). In a direct form of criminal contempt committed in the
presence of the court, the intent required can be inferred from the nature of the contemptuous
conduct at issue. Id.; People v. L.A.S., 111 Ill. 2d 539, 543, 490 N.E.2d 1271, 1273 (1986).
Because the contemptuous behavior occurred in the presence of the court, it is allowable for
the judge to proceed on this personal knowledge and to summarily punish the contemnor
without holding a hearing or allowing a defense to the charge. Sheahan, 150 Ill. App. 3d at
574, 502 N.E.2d at 50. These summary proceedings are not considered to be a violation of
the contemnor’s due process rights. Id. at 574-75, 502 N.E.2d at 51; People v. Collins, 57 Ill.
App. 3d 934, 936, 373 N.E.2d 750, 751-52 (1978). The purpose of criminal contempt is to
punish the contemnor. People v. Goleash, 311 Ill. App. 3d 949, 956, 726 N.E.2d 194, 199
(2000).
¶ 11 We will not overturn a trial court’s finding of direct criminal contempt unless that finding
is not supported by sufficient evidence. People v. Graves, 74 Ill. 2d 279, 284, 384 N.E.2d
1311, 1314 (1979).
¶ 12 We find that the issue of the defendant’s ability to form the intent necessary to commit
a criminal contempt of court due to mental illness is dispositive. We do not address whether
or not the convictions were factually supported.
¶ 13 Summary adjudication of contempt is appropriate when the trial judge has all facts
necessary to resolve the matter. However, if it appears that the defendant may have a mental
health condition, that mental issue could bar criminal responsibility. Sheahan, 150 Ill. App.
3d at 576-77, 502 N.E.2d at 52 (quoting United States v. Flynt, 756 F.2d 1352, 1364-66 (9th
Cir. 1985)). If there is a substantial issue of the defendant’s mental capacity to commit
contempt, an element of the crime of contempt is therefore not within the judge’s knowledge.
People v. Willson, 302 Ill. App. 3d 1004, 1006, 706 N.E.2d 1075, 1077 (1999). The matter
of mental illness is considered to be beyond the personal knowledge of the trial judge.
Sheahan, 150 Ill. App. 3d at 576-77, 502 N.E.2d at 52 (quoting Flynt, 756 F.2d at 1364-66).
“ ‘[T]he nature of [the defendant’s] words and conduct would raise a substantial question as
to mental capacity in the mind of any reasonable observer, a question that could be answered
only on the basis of facts beyond the immediate knowledge of a district court.’ ” Id. at 577,
502 N.E.2d at 52 (quoting Flynt, 756 F.2d at 1366). If the record reflects a substantial issue
of intent to commit contempt due to mental illness, the court should initiate a hearing on the
individual’s mental capacity. Id.; People v. Willson, 302 Ill. App. 3d 1004, 1006, 706 N.E.2d
1075, 1077 (1999).
¶ 14 Based upon our review of the record on appeal, we conclude that the matter of the
defendant’s mental illness could have impacted his ability to form the intent to commit direct
criminal contempt. There were sufficient questions raised about the defendant’s mental
mind-set, not only because of his behaviors and statements in the courtroom but also based
upon documents he attempted to introduce into evidence. Additionally, the visitation petition
before the court at both hearings contained allegations that the defendant was mentally ill and
-5-
that his “irrational behavior” had been “escalating in recent months.” The trial judge even
made mention of Natalie’s claims that the defendant was mentally ill. At one point, the trial
judge commented on the record that it was as if the defendant had two separate
personalities–a calm personality and a highly agitated personality. The judge stated that he
did not know if the defendant had the capacity to help himself but that his courtroom
behavior was “just not reasonable and rational.” At the October 5, 2010, hearing, after which
the court ordered that the defendant be released from jail, the judge noted that he was not a
mental health expert, but suggested that the defendant suffered from a “personality disorder,
behavior disorder or some sort of mental illness” as an explanation for his courtroom
behavior.
¶ 15 We reverse the convictions of direct criminal contempt. We remand these cases to the
trial court for a hearing to determine if the defendant has a mental illness that could have had
a bearing on his ability to form the requisite intent for commission of direct criminal
contempt.
¶ 16 Because we conclude that there was an issue of the defendant’s ability to form the
requisite intent for direct criminal contempt on the basis of mental illness, we do not address
the defendant’s alternate theory that his hearing loss was the foundation for many of his
actions.
¶ 17 CONCLUSION
¶ 18 For the foregoing reasons, the judgments of the circuit court of Fayette County are hereby
reversed and the causes remanded.
¶ 19 Reversed and remanded.
-6-