Opinion ID: 2077350
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Trial Court's Failure to Sua Sponte Order an Inquiry Into Defendant's Fitness to Stand Trial or Be Sentenced

Text: Prior to trial, defense counsel asserted that defendant was receiving psychotropic medication and that he had a history of head injuries and seizures that could affect his fitness to stand trial. Counsel averred that he had a bona fide doubt as to defendant's fitness to stand trial and requested that the issue be decided by a jury. The trial court granted the request and set the matter for hearing. Experts were appointed to examine defendant. On August 29 and 30, 1996, a jury fitness hearing was held. The sole witness for the State, clinical psychologist Dr. Daniel Cuneo, testified that defendant had a history of headaches beginning at age 5, and a history of seizures beginning at age 12. Cuneo estimated that defendant's IQ was in the dull normal range. Cuneo also noted defendant's chronic abuse of drugs and his history of blackouts. Cuneo concluded that defendant suffered from poly-substance dependence, a personality disorder not otherwise specified, a seizure disorder, and an antisocial personality disorder. Cuneo also testified that at the St. Clair County jail, defendant was being given the antidepressant drug Elavil and the anticonvulsive drug Dilantin. During Cuneo's cross-examination, the following exchange took place. [Assistant Public Defender:] Last area of inquiry I'd like to ask you about, Doctor, is you testified to this jury in your opinion you thought that [defendant] was fit, and I'd like to ask you specifically whether because of the history of seizures, the Elavil and the Dilantin that he's taking on a daily basis, whether or not he's a type of individual that would be more appropriately fit with special provisions? [Dr. Cuneo:] He's going to have to remain on the Dilantin. The issue there is you may wish to have a medical doctor make that decision, and I state that you may want to have a neurologist come in, and I state that because he has been seizure free, according to [defendant], for three to four years. At the same time, he's been on the Dilantin. If he didn't take his Dilantin, he would suffer seizures. If he suffered seizures, he would be unable to continue with the trial. He would also, I don't know, seizure [ sic ] he'd be unable to recall what's going on at that time. So, he would need to be on the medication, but I would think that the best individual to make that decision would be a physician. Q. Well, Doctor, are you saying that you don't have enough information to render an opinion in that regard? You don't feel you're well qualified in that area or that there would have to be further testing done? A. I'm stating that he's fit on the medication he is on. I would strongly recommend that he continue with the Dilantin. Q. What if he were taken off the medication? [Assistant State's Attorney:] Objection, your Honor. That's irrelevant. THE COURT: Sustained. At the conclusion of defendant's fitness hearing, the jurors found defendant fit to stand trial. Defendant's murder trial and capital sentencing hearing subsequently took place in late July 1997, 11 months after his fitness hearing. On July 29, during the State's rebuttal aggravation, Dr. John Rabun, a forensic psychiatrist, testified that the nurse at the St. Clair County jail informed him that defendant refused to take his Dilantin in January 1997, and that, as far as the nurse was aware, defendant had not taken the medication since then. Rabun also testified that defendant told him he had suffered a seizure while at the county jail. Defendant now maintains that Cuneo's testimony at the fitness hearing established that defendant was fit to stand trial only because he was taking his prescribed antiseizure medication, Dilantin, and that defendant would remain fit only if he continued to take the medication. Defendant further maintains that Rabun's testimony established that, for six months prior to his trial and sentencing hearing, defendant had not been given the medication that was a prerequisite to his remaining fit. Defendant also observes that, when Rabun testified regarding the nurse's statement that defendant had not been taking his Dilantin, neither the trial court nor defense counsel took any steps to ensure that defendant had not been rendered unfit during his trial and death penalty hearing. Defendant maintains that this failure deprived defendant of his right to due process of law. Defendant also contends that, because there was testimony that, without the Dilantin, defendant could suffer a type of seizure such that others would not know he had lost awareness of what was going on around him, the failure to sua sponte inquire into his fitness violated his right to be present at trial and sentencing. A defendant is presumed fit to stand trial. 725 ILCS 5/104-10 (West 1994). A defendant is entitled to a fitness hearing only when a bona fide doubt of his fitness to stand trial or be sentenced is raised. People v. Johnson, 183 Ill.2d 176, 193, 233 Ill.Dec. 288, 700 N.E.2d 996 (1998). The bona fide doubt inquiry is focused primarily on whether the defendant is able to understand the nature and purpose of the proceedings and to assist in his defense. Johnson, 183 Ill.2d at 193, 233 Ill.Dec. 288, 700 N.E.2d 996. Because it is a violation of due process to convict a defendant who is mentally unfit to stand trial, a judge has a duty to order a fitness hearing sua sponte once facts are brought to the judge's attention that raise a bona fide doubt of the accused's fitness to stand trial or be sentenced. People v. Murphy, 72 Ill.2d 421, 430, 21 Ill.Dec. 350, 381 N.E.2d 677 (1978). In this case, defendant's sole basis for contending that an inquiry should have been made into his fitness following Rabun's testimony is that defendant had not been taking a prescribed antiseizure medication, Dilantin, between January 1997 and late July 1997. This assertion is not supported by the record. On seven separate occasions, from January 2, 1997, through July 21, 1997, during various court appearances, defendant was questioned by the trial court regarding his ability to understand the court proceedings and assist his trial counsel. On at least four of these occasions, January 22, July 2, July 18 and July 21, defendant stated that he was taking Dilantin for his seizures. Typical of the colloquies which occurred on these occasions is the following exchange that took place on July 18, 1997: THE COURT: And we've gone through this before, but you read, write, and understand the English language? THE DEFENDANT: Yes, sir. THE COURT: You're not under the influence of any drugs or alcohol today that would prevent you from understanding what's going on? THE DEFENDANT: No, sir. THE COURT: Are you taking any medication? THE DEFENDANT: Yes, Dilantin. THE COURT: That's for seizures? THE DEFENDANT: Yes. THE COURT: For mood swings and so forth? DEFENDANT: Yeah. THE COURT: But that doesn't affect your ability to communicate with your lawyer or understand what's going on, does it? DEFENDANT: No, sir. The record thus indicates that defendant told the trial court that he was taking Dilantin during the very time that defendant now asserts that he was not taking the medication. The only evidence offered by defendant to support his contention that he was not taking Dilantin is the hearsay statement from the jail nurse. There are no medical reports in the record that indicate defendant was not taking Dilantin, and defendant points to no other facts in the record that suggest a bona fide doubt as to his fitness to stand trial or sentencing. From January 1997 through July 1997, the trial court repeatedly and scrupulously questioned the defendant regarding the medications he was ingesting, his awareness of the court proceedings and his ability to assist his trial counsel. During this time, defendant expressly informed the trial court that he was taking Dilantin. On this record, therefore, we cannot say that the trial court erred when it did not sua sponte inquire into defendant's fitness following Rabun's testimony.