Court Opinion

ID: 9709341
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 03:45:26.963814+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:47.874389
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE SLATER, specially concurring: I agree that the judgment of the trial court should be affirmed, but I disagree with the interpretation of Supreme Court Rule 13 as requiring a mandatory 21-day continuance upon withdrawal by a party’s attorney. As Justice Doyle noted in Ali v. Jones (1993), 239 Ill. App. 3d 844, 850, 607 N.E.2d 655, 658 (Doyle, J., dissenting), "nothing in the language of Rule 13 or in the decisions cited in the majority opinion indicatives] that the trial court should have been paralyzed in the conduct of its business” after allowing withdrawal. In my opinion, the trial judge in this case clearly did not abuse his discretion in refusing to grant a continuance in view of respondent’s apparent and repeated inability or unwillingness to find an attorney she deemed satisfactory. It is evident from the court’s comments that it was not merely concerned with its calendar but also with the welfare of the minor child: "THE COURT: It’s not in the interest of children to be placed in these limbo situations. This has been dragging on some time now and we’ve got dates set aside to hear this case — see? And the next date will be — we’re probably looking at March and that’s just too long to have this child in limbo between the two of you. We need to get this case resolved and it’s my responsibility as a judge to see that these children — children’s interests are protected as well as yours.” An abuse of discretion occurs only where no reasonable person would take the position adopted by the trial court. (McKenzie Dredging Co. v. Deneen River Co. (1993), 249 Ill. App. 3d 694, 619 N.E.2d 188.) Under the circumstances, I would find no abuse of discretion by the court in refusing to grant a continuance and I would affirm on that basis.