People v. Taylor 

Illinois Supreme Court
Criminal Court
Conflicts
Postconviction Petitions
Citation
Case Number: 
No. 107701
Decision Date: 
Thursday, March 18, 2010
District: 
1st Dist.
Division/County: 
Cook Co.
Holding: 
Appellate court affirmed.
Justice: 
FREEMAN
Defendant and his brother, and another man, were jointly tried for first-degree murder when victim was shot during melee at party. Two brothers were represented by one attorney, and were found guilty; other man had his own attorney and was acquitted. Defendant claimed conflict because his attorney refused to present three defense witnesses who Defendant said would say that he had no involvement with gun used in shooting. (State's theory was that brother was the shooter and that this Defendant had handed him the gun, and that other man had punched victim.) No conflict in representation that affected attorney's performance, as attorney had made tactical trial decision to not present witnesses, as upon interviewing witnesses he found they lacked credibility, were inconsistent, and might be damaging.