Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Postconviction Petitions
Defendant was convicted, after bench trial, of solicitation of murder for hire. State is not required, under constitutional or under statute, to assure reasonable assistance of retained counsel in postconviction proceedings. Defendant may seek recourse against his attorney for alleged failings, and may bring successive postconviction petition arguing that failings show cause for failure to raise meritorious issues in initial postconviction petition. (HYMAN and MASON, concurring.)