Opinion ID: 3134745
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Fairness of the Sentencing Hearing

Text: Defendant next claims that his due process and equal protection rights were violated because his sentencing hearing was fundamentally unfair. In particular, he contends that (a) the judge who presided over his sentencing hearing was biased, (b) inadmissible “hypnotically enhanced” testimony was presented, and (c) under the heading of “other claims,” eight additional errors denied him a fair sentencing hearing. (a) Judicial Bias Defendant attached to his post-conviction petition two affidavits in support of his claim that the judge who presided over his sentencing hearing was biased against him. The first affiant was Martha Fitzsimmons, an attorney employed by the Cook County public defender’s office, who represented defendant at his second sentencing hearing. Fitzsimmons attested to the fact that she had visited the judge’s chambers and saw “prominently displayed on the wall, a framed and matted souvenir.” Fitzsimmons said she later learned that this “souvenir” had been given to the judge by the assistant State’s Attorneys who had originally tried defendant’s case. The framed “souvenir” held a picture of two girls–Urica Winder and her sister–and a handwritten letter from Urica. According to Fitzsimmons, the letter said “something to the effect of ... thank you Judge Urso for helping me during the trial and putting those bad men away for good.” Fitzsimmons stated that she informed appellate counsel of this “evidence of prejudice,” but that the issue of judicial bias was not raised on appeal. The second affiant was Steven Clark, an attorney employed by the office of the State Appellate Defender and defendant’s counsel for both of defendant’s direct appeals to this court and for his appeal to the United States Supreme Court. Clark averred that he had been present in the courtroom on several occasions during defendant’s second death penalty hearing and “on 5 to 10 occasions during the proceedings, in the presence of the jury, Judge Urso reacted to objections and requests for side bars by defense counsel by at various times frowning, raising the volume of his voice, rolling his eyes, looking at the ceiling, or abruptly moving his arms or body. Each of these reactions indicted that the Judge was angry with defense counsel.” As stated, a post-conviction petition is not an appeal, but a collateral proceeding, and issues that could have been presented on direct appeal, but were not, may be deemed waived. People v. Hampton , 165 Ill. 2d 472 (1995); People v. Stewart , 123 Ill. 2d 368, 372 (1988). Waiver will apply unless principles of fundamental fairness require review of the issue. People v. Owens , 129 Ill. 2d 303, 317 (1989). “ ‘ “Fundamental fairness” requires courts to review procedurally defaulted claims in collateral proceedings only when a defendant shows cognizable “cause” for his failure to make timely objection, and shows “actual prejudice” flowing from the error now complained of.’ ” People v. Hudson , 195 Ill. 2d 117, 123 (2001), quoting Owens , 129 Ill. 2d at 317, citing Wainwright v. Sykes , 433 U.S. 72, 53 L. Ed. 2d 594, 97 S. Ct. 2497 (1977). See also People v. Mahaffey , 194 Ill. 2d 154 (2000). As detailed in Hudson : “ ‘[C]ause’ denotes ‘ “ ‘some objective factor external to the defense [that] impeded counsel’s efforts’ to raise the claim” in an earlier proceeding.’ People v. Flores , 153 Ill. 2d 264, 279 (1992), quoting McCleskey v. Zant , 499 U.S. 467, 493, 113 L. Ed. 2d 517, 544, 111 S. Ct. 1454, 1470 (1991), quoting Murray v. Carrier , 477 U.S. 478, 488, 91 L. Ed. 2d 397, 408, 106 S. Ct. 2639, 2645 (1986). Moreover, the United States Supreme Court has identified objective factors that constitute cause to include ‘ “ ‘interference by officials’ ” that makes compliance with the State’s procedural rule impracticable, and “a showing that the factual or legal basis for a claim was not reasonably available to counsel.” [Citation.] In addition, constitutionally “[i]neffective assistance of counsel ... is cause.” [Citation.] Attorney error short of ineffective assistance of counsel, however, does not constitute cause .’ McCleskey , 499 U.S. at 493-94, 113 L. Ed. 2d at 544, 111 S. Ct. at 1470. To establish actual prejudice, a petitioner ‘must show “not merely that the errors at ... trial created a possibility of prejudice, but that they worked to his actual and substantial disadvantage, infecting his entire trial with error of constitutional dimensions.” ’ Murray , 477 U.S. at 494, 91 L. Ed. 2d at 412, 106 S. Ct. at 2648, quoting United States v. Frady , 456 U.S. 152, 170, 71 L. Ed. 2d 816, 832, 102 S. Ct. 1584, 1596 (1982).” Hudson , 195 Ill. 2d at 123-24. In the present case, judicial bias was not raised in defendant’s direct appeal. While we acknowledge that the waiver rule is less rigidly applied where the basis for the objection is the conduct of the trial judge ( People v. Nevitt , 135 Ill. 2d 423, 455 (1990)), principles of fundamental fairness do not require that we ignore the procedural bar in this case. Although defendant fails to mention it, a substitution of judge motion was filed prior to defendant’s resentencing hearing. In this motion, allegations of Judge Urso’s lack of impartiality were premised, primarily, on the framed photograph and letter from Urica which Judge Urso kept in his chambers. The motion was heard by Judge Gaughan, who held an evidentiary hearing on the matter. At this hearing, the court heard testimony which established that the framed letter stated simply, “Judge Urso, Thank you. Urica.” Furthermore, other witnesses testified that this framed keepsake was only one of many pictures, artists’ sketches, and pieces of memorabilia which cluttered the judge’s chambers. After hearing argument on the motion, Judge Gaughan denied the substitution motion. When Clark represented defendant in his direct appeal following the resentencing, he did not challenge the correctness of this ruling. Nor did Clark raise judicial bias as an issue on appeal, even though Clark now claims to have witnessed the judge exhibiting body language during the sentencing hearing which suggested that the judge was not being impartial. Under the circumstances, the claim of judicial bias which is being raised in the post-conviction petition is not based on “new evidence” unknown to appellate counsel, nor can defendant show that efforts to raise the issue of judicial bias in a timely fashion were impeded. Thus, he cannot show cognizable cause. Moreover, defendant cannot show a reasonable possibility that he was prejudiced as a result of judicial bias. The trial court, after an evidentiary hearing, decided that the framed keepsake was not a basis for disqualifying Judge Urso from presiding over the sentencing hearing. We agree. Disqualification of a judge is not a decision to be made lightly. People v. Steidl , 177 Ill. 2d 239 (1997); People v. Vance , 76 Ill. 2d 171 (1979). A judge is presumed to be impartial even after extreme provocation. People v. Hall , 114 Ill. 2d 376, 407 (1986). It is assumed that judges, regardless of their personal backgrounds and experiences in life, will be able to set aside any biases or predispositions they might have and consider each case in light of the evidence presented. People v. Tye , 141 Ill. 2d 1 (1990). “[O]nly under the most extreme cases would disqualification for bias or prejudice be constitutionally required.” People v. Coleman , 168 Ill. 2d 509, 541 (1995); People v. Del Vecchio , 129 Ill. 2d 265, 275 (1989). The “thank you” note and picture were apparently given to Judge Urso soon after defendant’s initial trial, which took place in 1988. There is no evidence that Judge Urso had any contact with Urica closer in time to the resentencing hearing, which took place years later. Under the circumstances, the keepsake is not evidence that Judge Urso could not remain impartial in the subsequent resentencing hearing. Clark’s affidavit is equally unpersuasive in demonstrating judicial bias. Allegations of judicial bias must be viewed in context and should be evaluated in terms of the trial judge’s specific reaction to the events taking place. See People v. Hannon , 48 Ill. 2d 462 (1971) (when evaluating bias based upon a judge’s comment, reviewing court will review entire context of comment); People v. Martin , 285 Ill. App. 3d 623 (1996). Here, this court is unable to consider the judge’s reactions in context because Clark’s affidavit fails to identify the location in the record where Judge Urso’s reactions allegedly took place. Moreover, the fact that Judge Urso may have displayed irritation with defense counsel is not necessarily evidence of judicial bias against defendant. See People v. Steidl , 177 Ill. 2d 239 (1997) (a judge’s displeasure with counsel’s behavior is not a basis for automatic recusal). Nothing that has been presented to this court suggests that Judge Urso was unable to “hold the balance nice, clear and true between the State and the accused.” See People v. Del Vecchio , 129 Ill. 2d 265, 275 (1989), citing Tumey v. Ohio , 273 U.S. 510, 532, 71 L. Ed. 749, 758, 47 S. Ct. 437, 444 (1927). Since principles of fundamental fairness do not require a relaxation of the procedural bar, the issue of judicial bias is waived. (b) Hypnotically Enhanced Testimony Defendant next contends that he is entitled to an evidentiary hearing to determine whether he was denied a fair resentencing hearing because “hypnotically enhanced” testimony was introduced through Urica Winder. An evidentiary hearing is warranted, however, only when the allegations in the petition, supported where appropriate by the trial record or accompanying affidavits, make a substantial showing that the defendant’s constitutional rights have been violated. People v. Smith , 195 Ill. 2d 179 (2000); People v. Hobley , 182 Ill. 2d 404, 427-28 (1998). In the case at bar the record and supporting documents do not support a finding that Urica Winder’s testimony was “hypnotically enhanced.” Defendant relies on a July 10, 1988, Chicago Tribune article as evidence that “dream analysis” may have been used on Urica. However, the article contains only Dr. Soter’s recollection of a dream that Urica once told him about. Dr. Soter was Urica’s treating physician and he provided no psychological counseling or therapy. The article is not evidence that hypnosis or “dream analysis” were techniques employed in any therapy Urica might have received. Furthermore, the record does not support defendant’s assertion that Urica’s testimony “evolved and became more detailed over the course of time.” Our review of the record indicates that Urica was consistent in her testimony throughout all of the proceedings. We conclude that defendant’s claim that the State employed Urica’s “artificially enhanced” testimony at his sentencing hearing is speculative and does not rise to the level of a substantial showing of a constitutional violation. (c) Other Claims Defendant presents, in list form, eight additional claims of error. However, his argument is directed only to his eighth claim, in which he contends that his constitutional rights were violated because he was denied the right of allocution at his resentencing. On several occasions, this court has held that a defendant has no statutory or constitutional right to allocution in a capital sentencing hearing. People v. Hall , 195 Ill. 2d 1 (2000); People v. Simms , 192 Ill. 2d 348 (2000); People v. Gilliam , 172 Ill. 2d 484 (1996). As to the remaining claims, we decline to address them. Our rules provide that an appellant’s brief must contain “[a]rgument, which shall contain the contentions of the appellant and the reasons therefor, with citation of the authorities and the pages of the record relied on” and “[p]oints not argued are waived.” 177 Ill. 2d R. 341(e)(7). Consequently, the remaining claims of error are waived. Because defendant has failed to make a substantial showing that his constitutional right to a fair sentencing hearing was violated, we find that the trial court properly dismissed these claims without an evidentiary hearing.