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2024 IL App (5th) 230053-U 

NO. 5-23-0053 

IN THE

APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS

FIFTH DISTRICT

______________________________________________________________________________ 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the

 ) Circuit Court of

Plaintiff-Appellee, ) St. Clair County.

 ) 

v. ) No. 20-CF-20 

 ) 

HOWARD E. DOOLIN, ) Honorable 

 ) Robert B. Haida,

Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, presiding.

______________________________________________________________________________ 

JUSTICE McHANEY delivered the judgment of the court.

 Presiding Justice Vaughan and Justice Barberis concurred in the judgment.

 

 ORDER

¶ 1 Held: We vacate the trial court’s fitness order and remand this cause with directions that

the trial court conduct a retrospective fitness hearing to determine whether the

defendant was fit to stand trial. 

¶ 2 Following a jury trial, the defendant, Howard E. Doolin, was convicted of three counts of 

first degree murder, one count of armed robbery, and two counts of aggravated battery with a 

firearm. He was sentenced to three consecutive terms of natural life imprisonment for murder, 

consecutive to 43 years’ imprisonment for armed robbery, followed by 3 years of mandatory 

supervised release. On appeal, the defendant argues that the trial court erred in finding him fit to 

stand trial based solely on his and defense counsel’s stipulations as to his fitness; that he was 

denied a fair trial where the trial court incorrectly questioned prospective jurors regarding the 

principles outlined in Illinois Supreme Court Rule 431(b) in a closely balanced case; and that this 

NOTICE

This order was filed under 

Supreme Court Rule 23 and is 

not precedent except in the 

limited circumstances allowed 

under Rule 23(e)(1).

NOTICE

Decision filed 06/25/24. The 

text of this decision may be 

changed or corrected prior to 

the filing of a Petition for 

Rehearing or the disposition of 

the same.
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court should remand for a preliminary Krankel hearing where the trial court failed to inquire into 

his pro se posttrial claim that his counsel did nothing to stop the tainting of jury deliberations. The 

defendant further argues that he received ineffective assistance of counsel where his trial counsel 

failed to prevent the admission of inadmissible and prejudicial evidence. Because we vacate the 

trial court’s fitness order and remand for a retrospective fitness hearing, we decline to address the 

defendant’s additional claims of error. 

¶ 3 I. Background

¶ 4 We state only those facts that are necessary for the disposition of this matter. During trial 

preparations, defense counsel raised the issue of the defendant’s fitness for trial based upon his 

review of records from the Social Security Administration which indicated that the defendant had 

vision impairments as well as mental and psychological disabilities. On May 26, 2022, the circuit 

court found that defense counsel raised a bona fide doubt as to defendant’s fitness and entered an 

order appointing Dr. Daniel J. Cuneo, a clinical psychologist, to evaluate the defendant’s fitness 

to stand trial, and provide a report to all parties. 

¶ 5 On August 16, 2022, Dr. Cuneo issued his report. Dr. Cuneo concluded that the defendant 

suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder, mild neurocognitive disorder due to gunshot wound 

to the head, mild intellectual disability, and cannabis use disorder in a controlled environment. Dr. 

Cuneo opined that, despite his impairments and limitations, the defendant was fit to stand trial. 

¶ 6 On August 19, 2022, the circuit court addressed the defendant’s fitness at a “Fitness Exam 

Review.” At that hearing, the circuit court confirmed that the attorneys and the defendant had 

reviewed Dr. Cuneo’s report and were familiar with his findings. The following colloquy ensued:

“THE COURT: Okay, Mr. Doolin, with regard to the issue that was previously 

raised by your attorney regarding your fitness to stand trial, we’ve received a report from 
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Dan Cuneo. You’ve reviewed that with Mr. Peebles [(defense counsel)] or he’s indicated 

to you what his findings were, the doctor’s findings? 

DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: You recall meeting with Dan Cuneo?

DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: The report indicates that he met with you on August 11th, which 

would be exactly two weeks ago today.

DEFENDANT: We met. I don’t remember the exact date, Your Honor, but we most 

definitely met. 

THE COURT: Fair enough. And you’re familiar with the opinion that he has 

rendered based upon his meeting with you and reviewing of all your medical records and 

other records made available to him.

DEFENDANT: Yes, sir. 

THE COURT: Okay. Now, with regard to that, you have a decision to make. I’m 

assuming that [defense counsel] has discussed this with you. You can agree to accept the 

findings of Dan Cuneo and then we can proceed to set your case for trial or you can 

challenge his findings and we can have a, what I guess for lack of a better term would be a 

preliminary trial merely on the issue of whether you’re fit to go to trial on the criminal 

charges. 

I’m trying to explain it as best I can, but you’re entitled to have a trial and have a 

jury decide whether they think that you’re fit to go to trial or not on the underlying charges. 

([Defense counsel] and Defendant had a discussion off the record.)
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THE COURT: So you had some more time to talk with [defense counsel], and if I 

can explain it better or different to you I’ll try to do that. Or do you understand— 

DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

THE COURT:—what your decision is at this time?

DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: If you agree to Mr.—to Dan Cuneo’s findings, then we’ll set the 

case for trial, but you don’t have to.

DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: How do you think you want to proceed?

DEFENDANT: We gonna set it for trial.

THE COURT: So you want to stipulate and agree with Dan Cuneo’s findings that 

you’re fit to stand trial?

DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.

THE COURT: Now, [defense counsel] and Ms. Mazzotti [(Assistant State’s 

Attorney)], you reviewed the report. You stipulate that Dan Cuneo is qualified to render 

the opinions that he’s rendered in this matter and in other matters similar to it?

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Yes, Your Honor.

[ASSISTANT STATE’S ATTORNEY]: Yes, Your Honor.

THE COURT: And specifically you stipulate to his findings that [the defendant] is 

fit to stand trial?

[DEFENSE COUNSEL]: Yes, Your Honor.

[ASSISTANT STATE’S ATTORNEY]: Yes, Your Honor.
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THE COURT: All right. Based upon counsel’s stipulation as to Dan Cuneo’s 

qualifications and also to his findings that [the defendant] is fit to stand trial, and also [the 

defendant’s] stipulation that—to the findings of Dan Cuneo, I will find that [the defendant] 

is fit to stand trial, and we will schedule the matter for a jury trial the week of November 

14th, that’s a Monday commencing at 8:30 in the morning.” 

¶ 7 After a jury trial, the defendant was found guilty and sentenced to three consecutive terms 

of natural life imprisonment for murder, consecutive to 43 years’ imprisonment for armed robbery, 

followed by 3 years mandatory supervised release. The defendant filed a timely appeal.

¶ 8 II. Analysis

¶ 9 Both the United States and Illinois Constitutions bar the prosecution of a defendant who is 

unfit to stand trial. U.S. Const., amend. XIV; Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, § 2; People v. Holt, 2014 IL 

116989, ¶ 51. A defendant is presumed to be fit to stand trial, or to plead guilty, and be sentenced. 

725 ILCS 5/104-10 (West 2022). A defendant is unfit to stand trial if he is unable to understand 

the nature and purpose of the proceedings against him or to assist in his defense. Id. The issue of 

the defendant’s fitness may be raised at any time by the defense, the State, or the circuit court. Id.

§ 104-11(a). Once a bona fide doubt as to the defendant’s fitness is raised, the circuit court shall 

order a determination of the issue before proceeding further. Id. Fitness speaks only to a 

defendant’s ability to function within the context of a trial; a defendant may be fit to stand trial or 

plead guilty even though his mind is otherwise unsound. People v. Finlaw, 2023 IL App (4th) 

220797, ¶ 50 (citing People v. Haynes, 174 Ill. 2d 204, 226 (1996)). Thus, “having a mental illness 

does not on its own render an individual unfit to stand trial.” Id. 

¶ 10 “The Illinois Supreme Court has stated plainly that ‘[t]he trial court’s ruling on the issue 

of fitness will be reversed only if it is against the manifest weight of the evidence.’ ” Id. ¶ 53 
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(quoting Haynes, 174 Ill. 2d at 226). Generally, a trial court’s decision regarding fitness is not a 

matter of discretion; rather, “it is a matter of evidence.” (Emphasis in original.) Id. ¶ 55. However, 

“where a trial court merely ‘rubber stamp[s]’ an expert’s conclusion and fails to exercise judicial 

discretion and judgment, it may reflect an abuse of discretion.” Id. ¶ 57 (quoting People v. Gillon, 

2016 IL App (4th) 140801, ¶ 21). Because a defendant’s fitness to stand trial is an issue of 

constitutional dimension, “the record must show an affirmative exercise of judicial discretion 

regarding the determination of fitness.” People v. Contorno, 322 Ill. App. 3d 177, 179 (2001). 

Although a trial court may consider an expert’s stipulated testimony to assess a defendant’s fitness, 

it “may not rely solely on the parties’ stipulation to an expert’s conclusion that the defendant is 

fit.” (Emphasis in original.) People v. Gipson, 2015 IL App (1st) 122451, ¶ 30. Even where the 

parties stipulate to what an expert would testify, rather than to the expert’s conclusion, the trial 

court is still required to “ ‘analyze and evaluate the basis for an expert’s opinion instead of merely 

relying upon the expert’s ultimate opinion.’ ” People v. Cook, 2014 IL App (2d) 130545, ¶ 14 

(quoting Contorno, 322 Ill. App. 3d at 179). It is the duty of the trial court, not the expert, to 

determine the defendant’s fitness. Id. In other words, the court must be “active, not passive, in 

making the fitness determination.” Id. “[I]t is incumbent upon the court to make a record reflecting 

that it did more than merely base its fitness finding on the stipulation to the expert’s ultimate 

conclusion.” Id. ¶ 20.

¶ 11 Here, the record does not reflect that the circuit court analyzed and evaluated the basis for 

Dr. Cuneo’s opinion that the defendant was fit to stand trial; rather, it appears that the circuit court 

merely relied on Dr. Cuneo’s ultimate conclusion. Thus, we find that the circuit court failed to 

exercise its judicial discretion.
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¶ 12 Accordingly, we conclude that the appropriate remedy is for this court to vacate the circuit 

court’s fitness order and remand this cause for the limited purpose of conducting a retrospective 

fitness hearing to determine whether the defendant was fit to stand trial. See, e.g., People v. Payne, 

2018 IL App (3d) 160105, ¶ 14 (although once disfavored, retrospective fitness hearings now are 

appropriate if the court believes that defendant’s fitness can be fairly and accurately determined 

on remand). Following the retrospective fitness hearing, if the circuit court concludes that the 

defendant’s fitness at the time of trial can be accurately assessed and confirmed, then pursuant to 

our reasoning in People v. Moore, 408 Ill. App. 3d 706, 713 (2011), we retain jurisdiction, pursuant 

to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 615(b)(2) (eff. Jan. 1, 1967), to consider the merits of the 

defendant’s additional claims which we have declined to consider until the retrospective fitness

proceedings occur. Also pursuant to Moore (see id.), we direct the trial court to deliver to the clerk 

of the Appellate Court a report of its findings and a record of the proceedings on remand.

¶ 13 If, on the other hand, the trial court on remand concludes that the evidence regarding the 

defendant’s fitness at the time of trial is inconclusive or suggests that the defendant was not fit at 

the time of trial, then the defendant is entitled to a new trial. See Gipson, 2015 IL App (1st) 122451, 

¶ 38. 

¶ 14 III. Conclusion

¶ 15 For the foregoing reasons, we vacate the trial court’s fitness order and remand this cause 

with directions that the trial court conduct a retrospective fitness hearing to determine whether the 

defendant was fit to stand trial. 

¶ 16 Order vacated; cause remanded with directions.