Opinion ID: 2242593
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Reading of the Indictment at the Fitness Hearing

Text: Defendant's trial took place in September 1997. In July 1997, a fitness hearing was conducted before a separate jury. During the hearing, the State presented the testimony of two witnesses, Dr. John Rabin and Delancey Moore. Rabin, a forensic psychiatrist, testified that he had tried to examine defendant in May 1997. During that examination, defendant answered I don't know to several questions, but in response to other questions, he simply stared and whispered to himself. At other times, defendant made comments of a religious nature. Rabin terminated this interview after about 20 minutes. Rabin attempted a second examination in June of 1997, but defendant would not leave his cell to meet with Rabin. Because of defendant's refusal to cooperate, Rabin stated that he was unable to render an opinion as to whether defendant was fit to stand trial. Rabin also testified that it was possible that defendant was malingering, or faking a psychological disorder, during his examinations. Rabin noted that malingering should be suspected when there is a medical legal context of the presentation, i.e., when someone is charged with a crime or involved in litigation. Moore, a classification specialist in the St. Clair County sheriff's department, testified that he was in charge of determining the housing and placement for all inmates in the county jail, and that he was the chair of the jail's disciplinary committee. Moore stated that, as a general matter, he would not hold a disciplinary hearing unless the inmate understood the nature of the charges and proceeding. Moore explained that he had dealt with defendant at disciplinary proceedings in the county jail in April 1997, and in June 1997. During the April proceedings, defendant had requested that a witness be called on his behalf. According to Moore, defendant was competent, aware of his surroundings, and cognizant of the nature of the proceedings in both April and June. Defendant's mother and grandmother testified on defendant's behalf during the fitness hearing. Both women stated that defendant's mental condition had deteriorated since his incarceration, that he was frequently unable to recognize them, and that he suffered memory lapses. Defendant also presented the testimony of clinical psychologist Dr. Michael Gelbort. Gelbort stated that he examined defendant during two 45-minute sessions in March 1997. During these sessions, defendant was largely uncommunicative and unresponsive, but he also engaged in consistent delusional behavior. According to Gelbort, most of defendant's words and conduct appeared to be in response to his own internal thoughts. Defendant mumbled to himself, spit and stomped on the floor to get rid of imaginary bugs, and repeatedly asked for cigarettes despite Gelbort's statements that he had none. Defendant also indicated that he was hearing voices, and spoke of God and other matters in a jumbled manner. Because of the consistency of his behavior, Gelbort concluded that defendant was not gilding the lily, or faking psychological symptoms. Based upon his examinations of defendant, as well as discussions with jail personnel, Gelbort determined that defendant was unfit to stand trial. Gelbort was cross-examined at length regarding the basis of his conclusion that defendant was unfit, and about the possibility that defendant was malingering. During the State's cross-examination of Gelbort, the State sought to have Gelbort read the charging indictment. The State's purpose in introducing the indictment was to rebut Gelbort's conclusion that, while defendant might have some rudimentary understanding of the crimes he was charged with, he was unable to understand what the implication of those charges would be. The indictment stated, inter alia, that defendant was charged with committing the offense of FIRST DEGREE MURDER    in that he, without lawful justification and with the intent to kill Joana Bollinger, strangled Joana Bollinger, thereby causing the death of Joana Bollinger. Defendant objected to this cross-examination, arguing that the indictment described the circumstances of the murder, and that these circumstances were irrelevant and would unduly inflame the jury. The objection was overruled. Gelbort read the indictment aloud and, after questioning, concluded that, with some coaching, defendant could understand what the indictment meant. At the conclusion of the fitness hearing, the jury found defendant fit to stand trial. Defendant now argues that the circuit court erred when it permitted Gelbort to read the indictment before the jury, and that as a result of this error, a new fitness hearing and a new trial are required. The State, in response, correctly observes that this argument is procedurally defaulted because defendant failed to include it in his post-trial motion. See People v. Enoch, 122 Ill.2d 176, 186, 119 Ill.Dec. 265, 522 N.E.2d 1124 (1988). Nevertheless, pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 615(a) (134 Ill.2d R. 615(a)), this court may review an argument not properly preserved if we conclude that plain error affecting a substantial right has occurred. People v. Shaw, 186 Ill.2d 301, 326-27, 239 Ill.Dec. 311, 713 N.E.2d 1161 (1998). Before invoking the plain error exception, however, it is appropriate to determine whether error occurred at all. People v. Wade, 131 Ill.2d 370, 376, 137 Ill.Dec. 608, 546 N.E.2d 553 (1989). Initially, we note that the scope of defendant's argument regarding the indictment is somewhat unclear. In his opening brief, defendant appears to argue only that it was error to allow the jury to hear about the manner in which JoAna Bollinger was murdered, i.e., that she had been strangled. In his reply brief, however, defendant states that the jury should not have been told that defendant was charged with murder at all. We do not believe that defendant may assert this latter argument. At several times during the fitness proceedings, the members of the jury were told that defendant had been charged with murder. Some of these occasions were initiated, or acquiesced in, by defense counsel. For example, during the questioning of the prospective jurors for the fitness hearing, a concern was raised about the publicity which defendant's case had received. The following colloquy then occurred: [Defense counsel]: I would suggest that just a very broad general question concerning the fact be just that this received some publicity, and if they have read any newspaper articles or seen any television or heard any radio concerning this case. And I believe we'd have to probably, in conjunction with that, probably mention that thenames of the alleged victims here. THE COURT: Right. And it would seem to me a little follow up question for any juror who is considering the question of whether they heard anything as to what it is we are talking about. Does that mean that we need describe anything other than the First Degree Murder charge? [Defense counsel]: I don't think we do. Later, during opening arguments before the jury, defense counsel stated: Dr. Gelbort will testify    that [defendant's] here but he doesn't understand that he's charged with murder; that he doesn't understand that he will be going forbefore a jury at some future point where his guilt or innocence of that murder will be determined; that he doesn't understand either the proceedings or that he's in fact, charged with murder. In light of the foregoing, defendant cannot now contend that, because the indictment stated that defendant was charged with murder, the trial court erred when it permitted the indictment to be read before the jury. See, e.g., People v. Abston, 263 Ill.App.3d 665, 671, 200 Ill.Dec. 361, 635 N.E.2d 700 (1994) (where the defendant acquiesces in the trial court's course of action, the defendant cannot raise that course of action as error on appeal). Defendant's remaining argument is that his fitness hearing was irreparably tainted by the fact that the jury heard that JoAna Bollinger had been murdered by strangulation. In defendant's view, the circumstances of the victim's murder were irrelevant to the question of whether defendant understood the technical, legal charges against him. In addition, according to defendant, there is a strong possibility that, when the jury heard that JoAna Bollinger had been strangled, the jury lost its focus on whether defendant was fit to stand trial, and instead improperly focused on the nature of the crime. Thus, defendant argues that he is entitled to a new fitness hearing and new trial. We disagree. Even if we assume that the circumstances of JoAna Bollinger's murder were irrelevant to determining the question of defendant's fitness, the admission of those circumstances was clearly harmless. Before Gelbort read the indictment, the jury knew that JoAna Bollinger had been murdered, and knew, obviously, that the murder had been committed in some manner. No graphic or inflammatory details of the murder were included in the indictment. Indeed, the only descriptive term in the indictment is the word strangled. Furthermore, before beginning its deliberations, the jury was properly instructed that the only issue it was to decide was defendant's fitness to stand trial. Under the facts of this case, we find that no reversible error occurred when the indictment was read before the jury. Consequently, we also find no plain error. See People v. Keene, 169 Ill.2d 1, 17, 214 Ill.Dec. 194, 660 N.E.2d 901 (1995) (all plain errors are reversible errors).