Opinion ID: 3134275
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Ill 2d 63, 68 (1970). Before a criminal defendant's waiver of counsel will

Text: be deemed valid the trial court must determine that defendant has the ability to understand the proceedings, that he knows the significance and consequences of his decision, and that his waiver was not coerced. See Godinez v. Moran, 509 U.S. 389, 401 n. 12, 125 L. Ed. 2d 321, 333 n. 12, 113 S. Ct. 2680, 2685 n. 12 (1993). The entire record should be considered in determining whether the waiver was knowingly and understandingly made. People v. Barker, 62 Ill. 2d 57, 59 (1975). We believe that the court sufficiently assessed defendant's ability to understand his waiver of counsel and appropriately found that defendant's waiver of counsel was knowingly and understandingly made. A defendant's background, experience and conduct are all factors to consider when determining if a valid waiver of counsel has been made. Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U.S. 458, 464, 82 L. Ed. 1461, 1466, 58 S. Ct. 1019, 1023 (1938). Two different judges, on separate occasions, specifically asked defendant on the record what level of education he had achieved. In addition, the court was able to observe defendant's demeanor, appearance, and statements to otherwise evaluate whether defendant had the ability to understand the choice he was making in choosing to proceed pro se. Defendant's experience with the legal system is also readily apparent from the record. In an early pretrial appearance, defendant interrupted the judge's preliminary admonishments and recited Rule 401(a) verbatim. 134 Ill. 2d R. 401(a). When the same judge warned defendant that if he was convicted, he could be eligible for an extended term of imprisonment, defendant informed the court himself that he had a prior Class X offense. The record also indicates that at least two of the judges defendant appeared before were made aware through the discovery process of defendant's previous convictions. Each judge that defendant appeared before was aware that defendant had a previous capital trial in this matter and that he was represented by appointed counsel at that trial. On this record, we conclude that the trial court considered defendant's demonstrated familiarity with the legal system and properly concluded that defendant could understand the significance and consequences of his decision to waive counsel. Defendant's argument that no initial determination of his mental capacity to knowingly waive counsel was made is also inaccurate. Specifically, the record demonstrates that the judge who initially admonished defendant had adequate opportunity to observe defendant and determine his ability to make a knowing waiver of the right to counsel. Defendant demonstrated a rational understanding of the charges against him and the possible penalties. Moreover, defendant coherently participated in all phases of the pretrial and trial proceedings and responded lucidly to each judge's inquiries. Defendant filed numerous motions, examined witnesses and actively presented a defense. Defendant further contends that the trial judge erred when he did not specifically question defendant's mental capacity to waive counsel after defendant told the judge that at defendant's first trial his counsel raised the general issue of defendant's sanity. Three years into the pretrial period in this trial defendant filed a motion for appointment of standby counsel other than the public defender. When discussing the motion for new standby counsel, defendant informed the trial judge that the basis of defendant's dissatisfaction with the public defender was that in his first trial on these charges defendant's appointed counsel from the public defender's office filed a motion on defendant's behalf requesting that defendant be examined to determine his sanity at the time of the offenses, his fitness to stand trial and any mitigating factors as to the death penalty. Defendant contends that the failure of the trial judge in this case to make appropriate inquiries regarding defendant's mental capacity to waive counsel warrants reversal of his convictions and a new trial. We disagree. Competence to waive counsel is measured by the same standard as competence to stand trial. People v. Mahaffey, 166 Ill. 2d. 1, 19 (1995), citing Godinez v. Moran, 509 U.S. 389, 125 L. Ed. 2d 321, 113 S. Ct. 2680 (1993). In Illinois, a defendant is presumed competent to stand trial. 725 ILCS 5/104--10 (West 1992). The presumption is rebutted by evidence that defendant is unable to understand the nature and purpose of the proceedings against him or assist in his defense. 725 ILCS 5/104--10 (West 1992). In this case, defendant's conduct demonstrates an ability to understand the proceedings and to assist in his own defense. Our review of the record reveals that defendant's interactions with the court before and during trial did not raise a bona fide doubt of his fitness. As noted previously, defendant vigorously presented his defense. Further, the trial judge stated on the record that defendant seemed very, very lucid. On this record we believe that the court evaluated defendant's mental capacity to waive counsel and properly granted defendant's motion to proceed pro se. We also reject defendant's allegation that the numerous rambling motions he filed during the three year pretrial period should have caused the court to question his mental competency to waive counsel. Our review of the record indicates that defendant's motions arguably exhibit a lack of comprehensive knowledge of the law and principles of criminal procedure. Nonetheless, neither the written motions nor the record of defendant's defense of the motions demonstrate irrationality. Defendant's ability to articulate his case or to precisely motion the court are merely measures of his proficiency or lack thereof as a lawyer. His ability to represent himself is not indicative of his competence to choose self-representation. Godinez, 509 U.S. at 400, 125 L. Ed. 2d at 333, 113 S. Ct. at 2687. Therefore, defendant's numerous and voluminous motions or his imprecision in expressing himself as an attorney do not demonstrate here that defendant lacked the mental capacity to waive counsel. Defendant next argues that his waiver of counsel was invalid at sentencing where the trial court failed to readmonish him of his right to counsel after the verdict and before sentencing. This court has repeatedly upheld the continuing waiver rule (People v. Johnson, 119 Ill. 2d 119, 147 (1987); People v. Baker, 92 Ill. 2d 85, 95 (1982)), which provides that absent significantly changed circumstances or a later request for counsel, an intelligently and knowingly made waiver of counsel applies to all phases of trial. Baker, 92 Ill. 2d at 95. Defendant first argues that the court should have readmonished him prior to sentencing because the admonishments he received regarding waiver of counsel prior to trial were inadequate. As we have stated, we believe the court properly evaluated defendant's ability to make a knowing and understanding waiver of his right to counsel and find that the admonishments given him before accepting defendant's waiver of counsel were sufficient. Defendant next claims that the mere nature of capital sentencing compels readmonishment of pro se capital defendants before sentencing. However, defendant offers no support for his argument. Defendant's brief citation to Woodson v. North Carolina, 428 U.S. 280, 49 L. Ed. 2d 944, 96 S. Ct. 2978 (1976), is unpersuasive. In Woodson, the Supreme Court held that a North Carolina statute imposing a mandatory death sentence on persons convicted of first degree murder was unconstitutional because it allowed unbridled jury discretion. Woodson, 428 U.S. at 305, 49 L. Ed. 2d at 961-62, 96 S. Ct. at 2991-92. In reaching its conclusion, the Court emphasized the qualitative difference of the death penalty from a sentence of imprisonment. Woodson, 428 U.S. at 304-05, 49 L. Ed. 2d at 961, 96 S. Ct. at 2991. We agree that the statement in Woodson reflects the need for individualized sentencing determinations, but this general distinction does not support defendant's specific argument that all pro se capital defendants must be readmonished before sentencing. We have previously upheld the continuing waiver rule in capital cases (People v. Simpson, No. 76889 (March 21, 1996); People v. Johnson, 119 Ill. 2d 119 (1987)) and defendant offers no persuasive reason to reexamine these holdings. We also note that defendant was subjected to a capital sentencing hearing in his first trial on these charges and was therefore aware of both the process and his right to counsel at sentencing. Defendant's next contention is that the issue of defendant's sanity, raised by his appointed counsel in his first trial, coupled with his behavior in this trial were circumstances that should have caused the court to reexamine his capacity to proceed pro se at sentencing. We have noted, however, that there is no suggestion in the record that defendant was suffering from any condition that would impair his ability to knowingly and understandingly waive counsel for the purposes of this trial. Defendant's suggestion that his sanity may have been questioned in a previous trial is not a circumstance that would require the court to reexamine defendant's waiver of counsel before sentencing, absent indications of irrationality at the present trial. Defendant also argues that the lapse of time between the beginning of the trial period in this case and sentencing required that he be readmonished. A lengthy delay between trial phases is one circumstance that would possibly necessitate readmonishment of a pro se defendant prior to sentencing. People v. Baker, 92 Ill. 2d 85, 93-94 (1982), citing Davis v. United States, 226 F.2d 834, 840 (8th Cir. 1955). Here, defendant's pretrial period stretched over three years, largely as a result of defendant's requests for continuances. However, the court's admonitions and efforts to have defendant accept appointed counsel continued until two months before trial. Further, once the trial commenced no delay occurred between the guilt phase and sentencing, which was held the day following the guilty verdict. Defendant's reliance on Schell v. United States, 423 F.2d 101 (7th Cir. 1970), is distinguishable because the six-month delay in Schell occurred between trial and sentencing, unlike the instant case where sentencing immediately followed defendant's conviction. We also reject defendant's contention that he should have been readmonished prior to sentencing because the court's initial admonishment did not literally warn him that the waiver of counsel extended to all phases of the proceedings. The continuing waiver rule does not rest on the trial court's use of specific language in the initial admonishment. People v. Johnson 119 Ill. 2d 119, 145-46 (1987). Here, the court's admonitions prior to accepting defendant's waiver of counsel included a warning that defendant could face the death penalty. Defendant had also been represented by appointed counsel during the capital sentencing hearing of his first trial on these charges. Defendant cannot now argue that he is not familiar with his right to counsel at sentencing. B. Testimony of Ruby Bea Defendant next claims that he was denied a fair trial because the prosecutor was allowed to elicit from the mother of the two victims remarks that defendant believes were prejudicial. Although this issue was raised in defendant's post-trial motion, he failed to offer a contemporaneous objection at trial and has therefore waived the claim. It is well established that both a trial objection and a written post-trial motion raising an issue are required to preserve for review matters that could have been raised at trial. People v. Mahaffey, 166 Ill. 2d 1, 27 (1995). Although issues not properly preserved may be considered on review under the doctrine of plain error, we do not believe that the plain error doctrine will defeat the waiver here. 134 Ill. 2d R. 615(a). Plain error may be invoked in criminal cases where the evidence was closely balanced or the error was of such magnitude that the accused was denied a fair trial. People v. Bean, 137 Ill. 2d 65, 80 (1990). Neither element has been satisfied in the case before us. The evidence of defendant's guilt was overwhelming, including defendant's detailed confession which was corroborated by accounts of events given by several witnesses. Additionally, substantial physical and circumstantial evidence was presented and uncontradicted at trial. Nor do we believe the alleged error can be described as substantial. The prosecutor asked Ruby Bea if she had problems since the death of her children. Ruby responded that she was diagnosed with post-traumatic syndrome and alcoholism. The prosecutor then asked if these problems were the reason Ruby had difficulty remembering events, and Ruby answered yes. We do not believe this isolated comment from the victims' mother, in response to a query about her memory difficulties, was so substantial as to deprive defendant of a fair trial. C. Prosecutorial Remarks Defendant next claims that numerous remarks made by the prosecutor during the guilt phase of the trial were improper. Defendant believes that the remarks deprived him of a fair trial and warrant reversal of his convictions. During defendant's pro se examination of one of the investigating police officers, defendant probed the witness' knowledge of defendant's interactions with the victims' family on the night of the offenses. The colloquy was confusing, and the prosecutor objected, in an apparent attempt to clarify the time period to which defendant was referring. The following exchange then occurred: PROSECUTOR: Objection. Is he talking about before or after he killed the children? THE COURT: Objection sustained. DEFENDANT: Object to that statement. THE COURT: The question posed by the State is stricken and disregarded by you. Go ahead. Move on. Defendant contends that the prosecutor's remarks inflamed the jury's passion and prejudiced the jury against the defendant, depriving him of a fair trial. We agree that the assistant State's Attorney's remark was improper. However, the prompt sustaining of an objection by a trial judge is ordinarily sufficient to cure any error in a question or answer before the jury (People v. Hobley, 159 Ill. 2d 272, 315 (1994); People v. Baptist, 76