2016 IL App (3d) 130769
Opinion filed March 7, 2016
_____________________________________________________________________________
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
THIRD DISTRICT
A.D., 2016
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
ILLINOIS, ) of the 10th Judicial Circuit,
) Peoria County, Illinois,
Plaintiff-Appellee, )
) Appeal No. 3-13-0769
v. ) Circuit No. 07-CF-778
)
MICHAEL E. HAYES, ) Honorable
) Stephen A. Kouri,
Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, Presiding.
_____________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE HOLDRIDGE delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Presiding Justice O'Brien concurred in the judgment and opinion.
Justice Schmidt concurred in part and dissented in part, with opinion.
_____________________________________________________________________________
OPINION
¶1 The defendant, Michael E. Hayes, was convicted of armed violence (720 ILCS 5/33A-
2(a) (West 2006)), unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (720 ILCS
570/401(d)(i) (West 2006)), and unlawful possession of a controlled substance (720 ILCS
570/402(c) (West 2006)), and pled guilty to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon (720 ILCS
5/24-1.6(a)(1) (West 2006)).
¶2 The defendant appeals from the second-stage dismissal of his petition for postconviction
relief and contends both the circuit court lacked authority to dismiss the petition and he was
denied reasonable assistance of postconviction counsel. We affirm in part, reverse in part, and
remand for further proceedings.
¶3 FACTS
¶4 On December 15, 2013, the defendant filed a pro se petition for postconviction relief.
After 90 days passed, the petition was docketed for second-stage postconviction proceedings and
the circuit court appointed counsel to represent the defendant. Counsel did not amend the
defendant's pro se petition, but did file a "Motion to Dismiss and for Leave to Withdraw." In the
motion, counsel stated "[t]his attorney has reviewed the petitions and record, and researched the
substantive issues raised therein; also, this attorney has communicated with [the defendant]
telephonically and in writing and concluded that his petitions lack merit." Citing People v.
Greer, 212 Ill. 2d 192 (2004), the motion asked "the Court to dismiss [the defendant's] petitions"
and requested leave to withdraw as counsel.
¶5 Counsel filed an Illinois Supreme Court Rule 651(c) (eff. Feb. 6, 2013) certificate
accompanying the motion to dismiss. In it, counsel certified:
"1. I have consulted with the [defendant] telephonically and by mail in order to
ascertain his contentions of deprivation of constitutional rights.
2. I have examined the record of proceedings in the trial court.
3. I have made any amendments to the petition filed pro se that are necessary for
an adequate presentation of the [the defendant's] contentions."
¶6 The State did not file a response to counsel's motion to dismiss. The State also did not
file its own motion to dismiss the defendant's petition.
¶7 During the hearing on defense counsel's "motion to dismiss and for leave to withdraw,"
both the defendant and defense counsel summarized the history of the case for the court and
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addressed the merits of some of the defendant's claims. Defense counsel explained his
investigation into the relevant case law and its applicability to the claims in the defendant's
petition. Defense counsel informed the court that he had concluded the defendant's petition
lacked merit and requested leave to withdraw. The defendant disagreed and responded to
defense counsel's arguments. The State did not express a desire to adopt defense counsel's
motion. Nor did the State either assert that it agreed with defense counsel's motion or ask the
court to dismiss the defendant's petition. Instead the State offered a few comments while defense
counsel and the defendant were arguing the motion. The State's participation included: (1)
stating "you can't prove armed violence just by possession of a weapon. You have to prove a
companion felony offense"; (2) stating he could not recall the trial judge saying that the
defendant admitted possessing heroin by admitting that the defendant possessed a gun; (3)
stating that even if the judge made such a statement at sentencing it would not bear on what the
trial judge's findings at trial were; and (4) agreeing that the issue at trial was whether the heroin
belonged to the defendant.
¶8 After taking the motion under advisement, the court entered a written order, which states
in pertinent part:
"Upon consideration of Defendant's Post-Conviction Petitions, and
Defense Counsel's Motion to Dismiss and Leave to Withdraw, the Court orders as
follows:
1. Defense Counsel's Motion to Dismiss and Leave to Withdraw is
allowed.
2. Defendant['s] Post Conviction Petition, and amendments thereto, are
dismissed."
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¶9 ANALYSIS
¶ 10 On appeal, the defendant contends the circuit court erred in dismissing his postconviction
petition by relying on his counsel's motion to dismiss. The State concedes this point and requests
for the cause to be remanded for further second-stage proceedings so that it can answer or move
to dismiss the defendant's petition. Upon review of the record, we accept the State's concession.
Our inquiry, however, does not end there. The defendant also argues that (1) defense counsel
failed to provide reasonable assistance of postconviction counsel; and (2) the defendant is
entitled to new counsel on remand. We take each argument in turn.
¶ 11 I. Counsel's Performance
¶ 12 Postconviction counsel must perform specific duties in his representation as provided by
Illinois Supreme Court Rule 651(c) (eff. Feb. 6, 2013). Greer, 212 Ill. 2d at 204-05. Rule
651(c) requires that postconviction counsel consult with the defendant to ascertain his
contentions of the deprivation of constitutional rights, examine the record of the proceedings at
trial, and make any amendments to the defendant's pro se petition that are necessary for an
adequate presentation of his contentions. Id. at 205. Compliance with Rule 651(c) may be
shown by the filing of a certificate representing that counsel has fulfilled his duties. People v.
Perkins, 229 Ill. 2d 34, 50 (2007). The filing of the certificate gives rise to the presumption that
the defendant received the required representation during second-stage proceedings (People v.
Mendoza, 402 Ill. App. 3d 808, 813 (2010)); however, this presumption may be rebutted by the
record (People v. Marshall, 375 Ill. App. 3d 670, 680 (2007)). Because counsel in this case filed
a Rule 651(c) certificate, we presume he provided the defendant with reasonable assistance of
postconviction counsel.
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¶ 13 At the outset, we emphasize that the defendant does not claim on appeal that counsel
failed to adhere to the specific duties under Rule 651(c). Nor does the defendant make any
specific claim that counsel's Rule 651(c) certificate is deficient in any manner. Rather, the
defendant makes a general claim that counsel's performance was unreasonable for requesting the
dismissal of his postconviction petition. We have already accepted the State's concession that
dismissal was improper. Defense counsel's mere request for dismissal, however, does not
automatically rebut the presumption that counsel provided the defendant with reasonable
assistance at the second-stage proceedings. Such a determination must be made on the facts.
Greer, 212 Ill. 2d at 211-12.
¶ 14 As the defendant acknowledges, the requirements under Rule 651(c) do not obligate
counsel to advance frivolous or spurious claims (id. at 205), and a defendant is only entitled to a
reasonable level of assistance of postconviction counsel (Perkins, 229 Ill. 2d at 42).
Postconviction counsel may move to withdraw at the second stage if he believes that the petition
is frivolous and cannot be amended to state any viable claim. Greer, 212 Ill. 2d at 205-12. In
moving to withdraw, counsel is permitted to explain to the circuit court why he believed the
defendant's petition lacked merit and could not be amended to allege meritorious claims. Id. at
212 (suggesting in dicta that it is desirable for postconviction counsel requesting leave to
withdraw to elaborate to the court why counsel believed the defendant's postconviction claims to
be without merit).
¶ 15 The record in this case indicates counsel filed a Rule 651(c) certificate wherein counsel
represented that he fulfilled his duties in representing the defendant. After being appointed,
counsel requested several continuances for the purpose of reviewing the record and researching
the law applicable to the defendant's postconviction claims. At the hearing on counsel's motion
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to dismiss, counsel explained his reasoning for requesting leave to withdraw. While explaining
his reasoning, counsel summarized his investigation into the defendant's case and the relevant
case law applicable to the defendant's claims. According to defense counsel, several of the
claims included in the defendant's postconviction petition were previously litigated successfully
by the defendant's appellate counsel. Defense counsel also explained the defendant's claim of
ineffective assistance of trial counsel was without merit because the defendant could not prove
prejudice because the conviction at issue was ultimately vacated on appeal. Based on this and a
careful review of the record, we find defense counsel consulted with the defendant to ascertain
his contentions of the deprivation of constitutional rights, examined the record of the proceedings
at trial, and made any amendments to the defendant's pro se petition that are necessary for an
adequate representation of his contentions. See id. at 204-05. Thus, defense counsel's
performance was reasonable and his withdrawal was proper in light of his compliance with Rule
651(c) and the fact he believed the petition was frivolous. See id. at 205.
¶ 16 II. New Counsel
¶ 17 We now turn to the question of whether the defendant is entitled to new counsel on
remand even though previous counsel performed reasonably. We emphasize that the Post-
Conviction Hearing Act (Act) (725 ILCS 5/122-1 et seq. (West 2012)) does not provide for the
appointment of new counsel after the first appointed defense counsel complies with Rule 651(c)
and is allowed to withdraw. The Act is a creature of statute and all rights derive only from the
statute. People v. De La Paz, 204 Ill. 2d 426, 432 (2003). Further, the defendant fails to cite any
authority to support the proposition that the Act guarantees the appointment of new counsel after
the circuit court allows appointed counsel's request to withdraw on the basis the defendant's
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postconviction claims are without merit. Therefore, we hold the defendant is not entitled to new
appointed counsel on remand.
¶ 18 In reaching our conclusion, we reject the defendant's reliance on People v. Shortridge,
2012 IL App (4th) 100663, for the proposition that he is entitled to new appointed counsel on
remand. To begin with, we believe the analytical approach in Shortridge is incorrect in that it
fails to substantively analyze appointed counsel's compliance with the duties enumerated in Rule
651(c). In addition, Shortridge is procedurally and factually distinct from the case at hand.
There, counsel did not withdraw but, instead, refused to withdraw and confessed to the State's
motion to dismiss a postconviction petition at the second stage. Id. ¶ 6. Counsel's refusal to
withdraw prevented the defendant from responding to the arguments raised in the State's motion
to dismiss. As a result, the circuit court dismissed the petition pursuant to the State's motion. Id.
Despite counsel filing a Rule 651(c) certificate, the appellate court concluded counsel's conduct
amounted to a complete failure of representation and remanded the cause and appointed new
counsel to represent the defendant. Id. ¶¶ 16, 18.
¶ 19 By contrast, counsel in the instant case merely moved to withdraw and dismiss. Counsel
then substantively explained the basis for his request to withdraw and dismiss. Unlike in
Shortridge, the record clearly establishes that counsel's conduct did not amount to a complete
failure of representation. See id. ¶ 16. We have remanded the matter back to the trial court so
that the proper procedure announced in the Act can be followed. Specifically, on remand the
State must file an answer to petition or move to have the petition dismissed. The defendant can
file a pro se response to the State's pleading. A hearing must then be held where both the State
and the defendant argue the merits of their positions.
¶ 20 CONCLUSION
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¶ 21 The judgment of the circuit court of Peoria County is affirmed in part, reversed in part,
and remanded for further proceedings.
¶ 22 Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded for further proceedings.
¶ 23 JUSTICE SCHMIDT, concurring in part and dissenting in part.
¶ 24 I concur in the majority’s finding that defendant’s trial counsel was effective and that the
trial court correctly found that postconviction counsel was properly allowed to withdraw based
upon the trial court’s finding that the petition was frivolous and patently without merit.
¶ 25 While it is not clear in the majority opinion, under Greer, postconviction counsel may not
simply withdraw because of his or her subjective belief that a petitioner’s postconviction petition
is frivolous; the attorney must file a motion and convince the court that the petition is, indeed,
frivolous. That is what occurred here.
¶ 26 While the State concedes that the trial court erred in dismissing the postconviction
petition without a motion on file from the State, we need not accept that concession. People v.
Carter, 2015 IL 117709, ¶ 22.
¶ 27 A trial court can dismiss a postconviction petition at the first stage if the trial court finds
that the petition is frivolous and patently without merit. 725 ILCS 5/122-2.1(a)(2) (West 2014).
Ergo, there is no dispute that the fact that the petition is frivolous and patently without merit is a
basis for dismissal of a postconviction petition. As Greer makes plain, the General Assembly
did not account for Illinois Supreme Court Rule 137 (eff. July 1, 2013) issues in the Act.
Nonetheless, the rule applies. Greer, 212 Ill. 2d at 209. There has already been a hearing on the
issues that support the trial court’s dismissal of the claim. That was done at the hearing on
counsel’s motion to withdraw. So, we have a finding by the trial court that the postconviction
petition is frivolous and patently without merit. We affirm that finding and yet, we remand the
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case to the trial court “so that the proper procedure announced in the Act can be followed.”
Supra ¶ 19.
¶ 28 When the State moves to dismiss on remand, just exactly what does the majority expect
will happen? The State will argue that the trial court has already found that postconviction
counsel could withdraw based on the finding that the petition is frivolous and patently without
merit and to continue would be a violation of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 137 (eff. July 1,
2013). The State will also remind the trial court that the appellate court has affirmed that
finding. That would make it the law of the case. People v. Tenner, 206 Ill. 2d 381, 395 (2002).
Furthermore, Illinois Supreme Court Rule 137 (eff. July 1, 2013) applies not only to lawyers, but
also to the parties. Defendant is likewise prohibited from taking up the court’s time pursuing
frivolous pleadings.
¶ 29 It makes no sense to me to remand a case for further proceedings once we affirm the trial
court’s second-stage finding that the petition is frivolous and patently without merit. It is beyond
me how any reasonable person can believe that a rational reading of the Act means that while a
trial court can dismiss a postconviction petition sua sponte at the first stage based on a finding
that the petition is frivolous and patently without merit, it cannot dismiss on the same basis at the
second stage on these facts: (1) court-appointed counsel reviews the record and confers with
defendant; (2) court-appointed counsel concludes that the petition is frivolous and cannot be
amended to cure that, therefore counsel moves to withdraw pursuant to Rule 137; (3) counsel
gives defendant notice of the motion and hearing; (4) the court holds a hearing at which
defendant is present and has an opportunity to rebut counsel’s allegation and evidence; and (5)
the court makes a finding that counsel may withdraw as the petition is frivolous. See also People
v. Jackson, 2015 IL App (3d) 130575, ¶¶ 28-38 (Schmidt, J., dissenting). Now, let us add
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another layer. Defendant appeals and the appellate court affirms the trial court’s order allowing
counsel’s motion to withdraw. Further, the appellate court concludes that defendant is not
entitled to new counsel on remand because the trial court correctly found that the postconviction
petition lacks any merit. Then, the appellate court reverses the trial court’s dismissal of the
postconviction petition and remands for defendant to do exactly what Rule 137 prevents him
from doing: pursue a frivolous claim.
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