Court Opinion

ID: 9518763
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 01:01:34.784612+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:35:14.452303
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE BILANDIC, specially concurring: I agree that defendant’s murder conviction and death sentence should be affirmed. Therefore, I join the majority opinion. I write separately, however, as to issue VII, which involves defendant’s fitness for trial while under medication, in order to express the continued adherence to People v. Mitchell, 189 Ill. 2d 312 (2000). In Mitchell, we held that a defendant’s claim that he was denied due process when he did not receive a fitness hearing, although he was taking psychotropic medication, is not cognizable on post-conviction review. Here, defendant cites to a 1984 presentence report that was introduced at his original sentencing hearing 16 years ago. The report indicates that, as the result of a 1983 “psychiatric contacte ],” defendant was prescribed Dalmane. Defendant argues that this cause should be remanded to the trial court for a hearing to determine whether he was being treated with Dalmane during the time of his trial and, if so, to determine also the dosage of the drug he received and the dates of treatment. Defendant characterizes Dalmane as a “psychotropic-type” medication.1  Defendant did not raise the issue of his fitness for trial in his direct appeal. See People v. Hall, 114 Ill. 2d 376 (1986). Moreover, defendant did not raise the issue in post-conviction proceedings (see People v. Hall, 157 Ill. 2d 324 (1993)); he did not raise the issue in his habeas corpus petition (see United States ex rel. Hall v. Washington, 916 F. Supp. 1411 (C.D. Ill. 1996)); and he did not raise it on review of the denial of his habeas corpus petition (see Hall v. Washington, 106 F.3d 742 (7th Cir. 1997) ). On review of the denial of defendant’s habeas corpus petition, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals granted defendant a new sentencing hearing on the basis that counsel was ineffective at defendant’s capital sentencing hearing for failing to present mitigating evidence and for failing to make an appropriate closing argument. Hall, 106 F.3d at 748-49. Defendant received a second sentencing hearing and was again sentenced to death. Now, on direct review of his second sentencing hearing, defendant, for the first time, raises the issue of his fitness for trial. Under Mitchell, defendant’s argument in this case would have been barred numerous proceedings ago. To the extent the majority opinion, by evading the issue, impliedly suggests that a procedural vehicle exists in which defendant may raise his claim, I disagree. Under Mitchell, defendant’s claim is barred. JUSTICES MILLER, HEIPLE and RATHJE join in this special concurrence.   Although defendant refers to Dalmane as a “psychotropic-type” or a “psychotropic-like” medication, defendant does not argue that Dalmane fits within the definition of psychotropic medications adopted by this court. See Mitchell, 189 Ill. 2d at 323-24. Dalmane, which is used to treat insomnia, is classified among the “Sedatives & Hypnotics,” and not among the “Psychotherapeutic Agents.” See Physician’s Desk Reference 214, 216, 2520 (52d ed. 1998) .