People v. Johnson

Defendant filed petition for postconviction relief with assistance of private counsel. Court dismissed petition at 1st stage, and denied Defendant's pro se motion to reconsider, which alleged postconviction counsel provided "ineffective" assistance by failing to raise certain previously requested claims. As the Post-Conviction Hearing Act does not provide prisoner right to counsel at 1st stage, no statutory basis to grant prisoners who have ability to retain counsel the right to reasonable assistance at 1st stage. (TURNER and APPLETON, concurring.)