Defendant was convicted of felony murder. Defendant claimed that court deprived her of her right to counsel of choice by failing to adequately inquire into her request, on day before trial, for substitute counsel. Court provided Defendant with multiple open-ended opportunities to express the reasons for her dissatisfaction with counsel, and court each time asked counsel to respond to the complaints, and asked certain questions about his trial preparation. No ineffective assistance of counsel for failing to file a motion to suppress statements Defendant made to police. Those statements were not incriminating and were not crucial to State's case; thus, there would be a clear trial strategy in not seeking their suppression. (LYTTON and SCHMIDT, concurring.)
Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Right to Counsel