Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Right to Counsel
Defendant was convicted, after bench trial, of first degree murder. Defendant argued, on appeal, that trial court abused its discretion by coercing him into withdrawing his request to proceed pro se, which he had filed two days prior to trial. Court's admonishments to Defendant were not coercive and were proper to inform Defendant of risks and limitations of proceeding pro se. (APPLETON and TURNER, concurring.)