Court Opinion

ID: 9738108
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 19:42:50.205767+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:03.758593
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE HEIPLE, concurring in part, dissenting in part: I agree with that part of the majority opinion upholding the court’s denial of the defendant’s second motion to withdraw his guilty plea. However, I disagree with that part of the opinion vacating the court’s finding of direct criminal contempt. Direct criminal contempt occurs in the presence of the judge and with his personal knowledge. (People ex rel. Andrews v. Hassakis (1955), 6 Ill. 2d 463.) It is directed against the authority and dignity of the court (People ex rel. Kazubowski v. Ray (1971), 48 Ill. 2d 413, cert, denied (1971), 404 U.S. 818, 30 L. Ed. 2d 118, 92 S. Ct. 78), and consists of any conduct which tends to embarrass or obstruct the court in the administration of justice, or bring the administration of law into disrepute. People v. Hagopian (1951), 408 Ill. 618. In the instant case, the defendant moved to withdraw his guilty plea one hour after he had pleaded guilty. He indicated he had a potential defense, and that it was his understanding he was going to receive credit for time served in New Mexico. The court granted the motion to vacate. The next day, the defendant pleaded guilty to the offense a second time. He did so on the advice of his attorney, who spent a considerable amount of time on the case and who had good reason to believe the defendant would be found guilty if he went to trial. At that hearing, the following colloquy took place: “THE COURT: This is the last time we’re going to go through with this. If you plead guilty, we’re not going to set it aside on the basis you want to withdraw it. DEFENDANT: I understand. THE COURT: So you’re pleading guilty because you are guilty? DEFENDANT: Yes, sir.” Nevertheless, the defendant moved to withdraw his second guilty plea on the same grounds he moved to withdraw the first guilty plea. The judge denied the motion and found the defendant in direct criminal contempt of court. The defendant’s conduct was clearly direct criminal contempt. He deliberately misled the court on two occasions, either when he claimed to have the requisite criminal intent or when he denied having the requisite criminal contempt. The defendant changed his plea on three separate occasions, each requiring a separate hearing. His conduct resulted in a waste of judicial time and economy, and thus, tended to interfere with or obstruct the administration of justice. People v. Bennett (1972), 51 Ill. 2d 282. In vacating the court’s finding of contempt, the majority does not state that a direct criminal contempt did not occur here. Rather, it appears the majority vacates the finding because it feels sorry for the defendant. The opinion reads, “[G]iven the trauma associated with appearing in court, it is understandable the defendant was nervous and unsure of himself.” (167 Ill. App. 3d at 222.) There is no support in the record for the statement that the defendant was traumatized by his courtroom appearance, or otherwise nervous and unsure of himself. The record indicates the defendant was perfectly comfortable with the courtroom experience and that he was willing to make whatever plea would most quickly end the matter, regardless of its truth or falsity, so that he could return to New Mexico and deal with the legal matters pending against him there. The majority should defer to the circuit court’s finding and support the court in its effort to administer its business in an orderly fashion. Accordingly, I would affirm the finding of direct criminal contempt.