Court Opinion

ID: 5141773
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-12-30 18:03:33.495251+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:24:30.850842
License: Public Domain

2021 IL App (1st) 192008-U
                                             No. 1-19-2008
                                    Order filed December 30, 2021
                                                                                        Third Division

 NOTICE: This order was filed under Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except in the
 limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1).
 ______________________________________________________________________________
                                                IN THE
                                  APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
                                           FIRST DISTRICT
 ______________________________________________________________________________
 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,                            )   Appeal from the
                                                                 )   Circuit Court of
           Plaintiff-Appellee,                                   )   Cook County.
                                                                 )
     v.                                                          )   No. 07 CR 13034
                                                                 )
 DEMETRIUS HEMPHILL,                                             )   Honorable
                                                                 )   Alfredo Maldonado,
           Defendant-Appellant.                                  )   Judge, presiding.

           PRESIDING JUSTICE GORDON delivered the judgment of the court.
           Justices Ellis and Burke concurred in the judgment.

                                               ORDER

¶1        Held: We affirm the second-stage dismissal of defendant’s postconviction petition over
                defendant’s contentions that postconviction counsel provided unreasonable
                assistance and, alternatively, trial counsel was ineffective for failing to introduce
                medical records in support of his defense.

¶2        Defendant Demetrius Hemphill appeals from the circuit court’s order dismissing his

petition for postconviction relief pursuant to the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Act) (725 ILCS

5/122-1 et seq. (West 2012)) at the second stage. On appeal, he argues postconviction counsel
No. 1-19-2008

provided unreasonable assistance by failing to (1) file a Rule 651(c) certificate, (2) argue and seek

a ruling on the merits of his actual innocence claim, and (3) make necessary amendments to his

actual innocence claim. Defendant alternatively argues he made a substantial showing that trial

counsel provided ineffective assistance of counsel for failing to introduce his medical records at

trial. For the following reasons, we affirm.

¶3     Following a 2009 bench trial, defendant was convicted of three counts of aggravated

battery to two correctional officers and sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment. The evidence

established defendant had been involved in an altercation with two officers at the Cook County

Jail. Correctional officer Otis Nichols testified that on June 1, 2007, he escorted defendant to his

cell following a psychological evaluation. Defendant was handcuffed with his hands in front and

was not initially acting aggressively. He asked about his food tray, and Nichols told him he would

ask other officers to determine if he had been fed.

¶4     Once at the doorway of defendant’s cell, Nichols started to remove defendant’s handcuffs,

and defendant grabbed a cup of liquid and threw it in Nichols’ face, which Nichols considered

insulting or provoking in nature. The cup contained approximately an inch of liquid; Nichols was

not drenched. Defendant then grabbed Nichols, and Nichols struck him in the face with a closed

fist. Defendant staggered further back into his cell, and Nichols dropped the handcuffs outside the

cell. Nichols’ momentum “carried [him] forward” into defendant’s cell, and he then needed to

“take [defendant] down to the ground.” The two then fell onto the bed in the cell.

¶5     During the altercation, correctional officer Brandon Lombardi arrived to assist Nichols.

Nichols was attempting to restrain defendant, and defendant broke away several times. Lombardi

                                                -2-
No. 1-19-2008

grabbed defendant’s legs to pull him off the bed. Eventually, the officers gained control of

defendant, and Nichols handcuffed him.

¶6     Nichols could not recall how many times he grabbed defendant because the situation was

chaotic. He acknowledged he was “not happy” about defendant’s conduct and previously testified

he had “lost his temper.” Nichols was not aware at the time that defendant made any contact with

Lombardi. He observed blood on defendant and acknowledged defendant required medical

attention following the incident. Nichols and Lombardi also received medical attention.

¶7     Nichols was 6 feet 1 inch and he weighed approximately 350 pounds. Defendant was

approximately 5 feet 7 inches and had a “slighter” build but seemed “fairly strong.” Nichols was

not aware that defendant named him as a defendant in a pending federal lawsuit. Nichols completed

a use of force report regarding the incident but acknowledged that he did not include that he and

Lombardi sought medical attention.

¶8     Correctional officer Brandon Lombardi testified that, while he was working on June 1,

2007, he noticed Nichols “sort of being dragged or pulled into the cell and saw him engaged in a

struggle with [defendant].” Lombardi went to assist Nichols by pulling defendant’s legs so they

could get him on his stomach and handcuff him. Nichols and defendant were not on the bed at that

point. As Lombardi reached around Nichols to grab defendant and turn him on his back, defendant

started kicking his feet and kicked Lombardi in the face. Defendant was subsequently handcuffed.

Lombardi noticed Nichols was “substantially wet.”

¶9     Lombardi’s tooth was chipped as a result of the kick, and he was treated at Cermak

Hospital. He was given Motrin for pain and did not file a worker’s compensation claim for the

injury. Lombardi was 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighed approximately 300 pounds. He did not

                                              -3-
No. 1-19-2008

observe blood on defendant but acknowledged that defendant received medical treatment

following the incident. Lombardi acknowledged he completed a use of force report regarding this

incident and checked a box indicating no medical attention was required. He clarified he filled out

the report around 6:30 p.m. and did not receive medical attention until after 7 p.m. He

acknowledged defendant named him as a defendant in a federal lawsuit related to the incident, in

which defendant alleged that his civil rights had been violated.

¶ 10   The parties stipulated that, if called, Dr. Sonya Lott would testify she examined Lombardi

following the incident. Her diagnosis was “positive for right chipped incisor, front gums intact

without bleeding; and positive for a small contusion to the upper lip.”

¶ 11   For the defense, three witnesses (Michael Davis, Frederick Walker, and Tremaine Johnson)

testified that they had known Officer Lombardi while incarcerated at Cook County Jail and noticed

he had a chipped front tooth prior to June 2007. All three witnesses had prior felony convictions.

¶ 12   The parties stipulated that there was a pending case in federal court captioned “Demetrius

Hemphill versus Sheriff Tom Dart, Officer Kern, Officer Lombardi, Officer Nichols, Officer

Kouch, and Officer Skinner,” which was initiated in March 2008.

¶ 13   In closing, defense counsel argued there was no evidence of injury to the officers, and the

officers’ testimony regarding the incident was inconsistent. Counsel further stated:

                “There are some things we do know for sure. First, we know that Officer Nichols

       lost his temper. He told us that himself. We know that Officer Nichols began the struggle

       by hitting [defendant] in the face with a closed fist. *** His momentum led him to strike

       [defendant] multiple times. We know what happened as a result. [Defendant] lost teeth,

       had bruised ribs and spent a number of days in Cermak recovering.”

                                               -4-
No. 1-19-2008

¶ 14   The trial court found defendant guilty of three counts of aggravated battery, finding there

was bodily harm to Lombardi and contact of an insulting or provoking nature to both Lombardi

and Nichols. In making its ruling, the court found that, while the officers had differing versions of

the incident, based on its experience “everybody that’s involved in a fight sees it from a different

angle as it occurs.” It also noted that the defense witnesses “left much to be desired.”

¶ 15    The trial court denied defendant’s amended motion for a new trial and sentenced him to

seven years’ imprisonment. We affirmed on direct appeal. People v. Hemphill, No. 1-09-2125

(2010) (unpublished summary order under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 23(c)).

¶ 16   On January 5, 2012, defendant filed a pro se postconviction petition under the Act,

alleging, in relevant part, that he was actually innocent based on newly discovered evidence: a

Department of Justice (DOJ) report that he obtained from his attorney in 2011. Defendant quoted

a passage from the report which detailed that “Dennis L.” had been attacked by several officers

after an officer refused to give him a dinner tray and Dennis L. threw a cup of liquid at him. The

report further detailed that, as a result of the altercation, Dennis L. suffered blunt trauma to his

head and body, had three teeth knocked loose, and had a laceration to his lower lip. The report

noted that officers and staff from Cook County Jail attempted to conceal inappropriate and

excessive use of force. Defendant alleged “Dennis L.” was a pseudonym for defendant, and that

the DOJ report would have changed the outcome of his trial.

¶ 17   Defendant attached to his petition a “statement of facts,” apparently copied from his brief

on direct appeal; the amended motion for new trial; and excerpts from the DOJ report regarding

the “inappropriate” use of force in the Cook County Jail. It included, among other examples, the

excerpt about “Dennis L.” that defendant included in his petition.

                                                -5-
No. 1-19-2008

¶ 18   On September 20, 2012, the circuit court docketed defendant’s petition and appointed the

office of the Public Defender to represent him. Defendant was initially represented by Assistant

Public Defender (APD) Barbara McClure.

¶ 19   On December 14, 2015, APD McClure filed a Rule 651(c) certificate (Ill. S. Ct. R. 651(c)

(eff. Feb. 6, 2013)) and a supplemental postconviction petition. The certificate certified that APD

McClure communicated with defendant by phone and letter to ascertain his contentions of

deprivations of constitutional rights, reviewed the pro se petition, and made necessary amendments

for the adequate presentation of defendant’s claims.

¶ 20   The supplemental petition alleged: (1) defendant’s actual innocence claim was not time

barred; (2) counsel on direct appeal was ineffective for failing to argue defendant was not proved

guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; (3) trial counsel was ineffective for failing to introduce

defendant’s medical records, as evidence of his injuries would have demonstrated the guards were

the aggressors; and (4) trial counsel was ineffective for failing to introduce evidence of the DOJ

report to show a pattern of abuse by Cook County Jail guards. With respect to the latter claim,

defendant argued trial counsel was ineffective for failing to discover the report and introduce it at

trial because it supported his defense that the officers fabricated the aggravated battery charge to

cover their attack on defendant.

¶ 21   Prior to the State filing its motion to dismiss, APD McClure retired and defendant’s case

was reassigned to APD Abby Clough. APD Clough informed the court she reviewed and agreed

with what APD McClure had filed and was “going to stand on [APD McClure’s] 651(c) that she’s

already filed on behalf of our office.”

                                                -6-
No. 1-19-2008

¶ 22   On September 19, 2018, the State filed a motion to dismiss, arguing defendant’s petition

was untimely, his actual innocence claim was meritless because the DOJ report was available at

the time of his trial and did not meet the requirements for newly discovered evidence, and his

ineffective assistance of counsel claims were meritless. The State attached to its motion the

transcript for a pretrial proceeding wherein the State had requested access to defendant’s medical

records from before the June 1, 2007, incident. In the hearing, defense counsel argued against

giving the State access to the records, contending defendant’s prior medical records were not

relevant to the case. Defense counsel added, “The extent of [defendant’s] injuries are not really

relevant to the court. *** No matter how badly [defendant] may have been beaten by the

correctional officers, I don’t believe that is an affirmative defense. It certainly is evidence that the

court may hear. But it’s not an affirmative defense to him doing whatever the officers say he did.”

¶ 23   Prior to filing a response to the State’s motion to dismiss, APD Clough informed the court

she was “almost done *** doing [her] review,” but was waiting to obtain a copy of the scanned

record from the prior attorney.

¶ 24   On January 15, 2019, APD Clough filed a response to the State’s motion, arguing that the

delay in filing defendant’s petition was not due to his culpable negligence because he had medical

issues and was denied access to the law library. Additionally, trial counsel’s failure to present

defendant’s medical records constituted ineffective assistance, and not trial strategy, as the theory

of the defense was that the officers beat defendant “so badly *** that they were forced to cover up

their abuse by charging [defendant] with a crime.” Further, trial counsel was ineffective for failing

to present evidence of Cook County Jail’s pattern and practice of abuse using the DOJ report,

which would have undermined the officers’ credibility at trial and corroborated the defense theory

                                                 -7-
No. 1-19-2008

that defendant did not throw anything at the officers, but rather, they used excessive force to

restrain him.

¶ 25   At the hearing on the State’s motion to dismiss, the State rested on its motion regarding the

untimeliness of defendant’s petition and defendant’s claim of actual innocence based on the DOJ

report, noting the report was available at the time of trial because it was released in 2008 and

defendant’s trial took place in 2009. APD Clough argued defendant’s claims regarding trial

counsel’s ineffectiveness, noting that trial counsel subpoenaed defendant’s medical records yet

failed to present evidence of defendant’s injuries at trial. APD Clough acknowledged the DOJ

report existed at the time of defendant’s trial and argued that trial counsel’s failure to present it

was the “crux” of the issue regarding the claim of the pattern and practice of abuse at Cook County

Jail. Following APD Clough’s arguments, the Assistant State’s Attorney stated, “I’m not going to

address the timeliness aspect. Even though I’ve erased it from my motion in keeping it for appellate

purpose, I would obviously prefer that your Honor rule on the merits of the matter.”

¶ 26   On September 11, 2019, the circuit court granted the State’s motion to dismiss. The court

found defendant’s petition was untimely and his conclusory claims of lack of culpable negligence

did not excuse the untimely filing. The court nevertheless addressed the merits of his claims.

Relevant here, it concluded his ineffective assistance of trial counsel claims did not set forth

substantial showings of constitutional violations because counsel’s decisions not to present the

DOJ report or defendant’s medical records were decisions within the realm of trial strategy and

presumed sound. The court found the DOJ report which contained evidence of excessive force

within Cook County Jail “has little bearing on the issues in this case.” Even if the report supported

that the officers used excessive force, “it is not probative of what events preceded it.” The court

                                                -8-
No. 1-19-2008

found the medical records would have been “at least marginally relevant,” but “would have had

little weight toward the ultimate issue” because they did “not rebut the evidence that [defendant]

threw the cup at Officer Nichols or kicked Officer Lombardi.”

¶ 27    On appeal, defendant first argues this court should reverse and remand for second-stage

proceedings because postconviction counsel, APD Clough, provided unreasonable assistance. 1

¶ 28    The Act provides for a three-stage process by which a defendant may assert his conviction

was the result of a substantial denial of his constitutional rights. People v. Beaman, 229 Ill. 2d 56,

71 (2008). At the first stage, the trial court must review the postconviction petition and determine

whether “the petition is frivolous or is patently without merit.” 725 ILCS 5/122-2.1(a)(2) (West

2012). If the petition is not dismissed within 90 days at the first stage, counsel is appointed, and it

advances to the second stage. 725 ILCS 5/122-2.1(a), (b) (West 2012). At the second stage, the

allegations set forth in the petition must make a substantial showing of a constitutional violation.

People v. Hall, 217 Ill. 2d 324, 334 (2005). The circuit court here advanced defendant’s petition

to the second stage, appointing counsel to assist him.

¶ 29    At the second stage, the Act provides that an indigent defendant is entitled to representation

by appointed counsel. 725 ILCS 5/122-4 (West 2012); People v. Lander, 215 Ill. 2d 577, 583

(2005). There is “no constitutional right to counsel, effective or otherwise,” in postconviction

proceedings. People v. Custer, 2019 IL 123339, ¶ 30. Rather, postconviction counsel is required

        1
         Defendant was assisted by two postconviction counsel but directs his claims regarding
unreasonable assistance of postconviction counsel only at APD Clough. In the introduction to his
argument, he contends: “Appointed counsel failed to argue and seek a ruling on the merits of his actual
innocence claim. She also failed to make two necessary amendments for that claim’s presentation at the
second stage of proceedings. And she never filed a Rule 651(c) certificate.” As APD Clough is the only
postconviction counsel who did not file a Rule 651(c) certificate, defendant’s claims necessarily refer to
her.

                                                   -9-
No. 1-19-2008

to provide defendant with a “ ‘reasonable level of assistance.’ ” Lander, 215 Ill. 2d at 583 (quoting

People v. Owens, 139 Ill. 2d 351, 364 (1990)). Reasonable assistance is a lower standard than

effective assistance under Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 687 (1984). People v. Zareski,

2017 IL App (1st) 150836, ¶ 50 (citing People v. Cotto, 2016 IL 119006, ¶ 29). The circuit court

dismissed defendant’s petition at the second stage, following a hearing on the State’s motion to

dismiss.

¶ 30   Defendant initially argues postconviction counsel APD Clough provided unreasonable

assistance by failing to file a Rule 651(c) certificate. Defendant contends her reliance on the

certificate filed by initial postconviction counsel APD McClure was insufficient under the rule.

We disagree.

¶ 31   Rule 651(c) codifies the duties of postconviction counsel. Under this rule, postconviction

counsel has a duty to consult with defendant to ascertain his contentions of constitutional

deprivation, examine the trial record, and, where necessary, amend the defendant’s pro se

postconviction petition to adequately present defendant’s contentions. People v. Pendleton, 223

Ill. 2d 458, 472 (2006). “Fulfillment of the third obligation does not require counsel to advance

frivolous or spurious claims on defendant’s behalf.” Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d at 472. Further, counsel

need only investigate and present the constitutional claims raised by the defendant in his pro se

petition. Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d at 475-76.

¶ 32   Compliance with these duties may be shown by a certificate filed by postconviction

counsel. Ill. S. Ct. R. 651(c) (eff. Feb. 6, 2013); Lander, 215 Ill. 2d at 584. Counsel need only

substantially comply with Rule 651(c). People v. Profit, 2012 IL App (1st) 101307, ¶ 18. The filing

of a Rule 651(c) certificate creates a rebuttable presumption that postconviction counsel rendered

                                               - 10 -
No. 1-19-2008

reasonable assistance. Profit, 2012 IL App (1st) 101307, ¶ 19. Defendant bears the burden to

overcome this presumption by demonstrating counsel failed to substantially comply with the duties

mandated by Rule 651(c). Profit, 2012 IL App (1st) 101307, ¶ 19. We review de novo the

interpretation of a supreme court rule, including whether counsel fulfilled her duties under Rule

651(c). People v. Suarez, 224 Ill. 2d 37, 41-42 (2007). De novo consideration means that a

reviewing court performs the same analysis that a trial judge would perform. People v. Van Dyke,

2020 IL App (1st) 191384, ¶ 41.

¶ 33   We find People v. Smith, 2020 IL App (1st) 181220, instructive. Similar to the instant case,

in Smith, the defendant’s appointed postconviction counsel filed a Rule 651(c) certificate and was

later replaced by new postconviction counsel, who did not file a certificate. Smith, 2020 IL App

(1st) 181220. The circuit court dismissed the defendant’s petition on the State’s motion at the

second stage. Smith, 2020 IL App (1st) 181220. The defendant argued on appeal that his case

should be remanded for further second-stage proceedings as new postconviction counsel, who

represented him at the hearing on the State’s motion to dismiss, did not file a Rule 651(c)

certificate, and the record failed to establish counsel otherwise complied with Rule 651. Smith,

2020 IL App (1st) 181220, ¶ 13.

¶ 34   This court disagreed, finding new postconviction counsel could rely on the certificate of

compliance filed by the original postconviction counsel, who the defendant did not dispute

complied with Rule 651(c). Smith, 2020 IL App (1st) 181220, ¶ 20. In reaching that conclusion,

this court found that new postconviction counsel’s role was different from that of the original

postconviction counsel. Smith, 2020 IL App (1st) 181220, ¶ 20. New postconviction counsel’s role

was to address the arguments raised in the State’s motion to dismiss, and “ ‘argue the merits of

                                              - 11 -
No. 1-19-2008

[the defendant’s] claims as presented in the petition following review by [original postconviction

counsel].’ ” Smith, 2020 IL App (1st) 181220, ¶ 20 (quoting People v. Marshall, 375 Ill. App. 3d

670, 683 (2007)). To perform that “limited role,” it was unnecessary for new postconviction

counsel to independently comply with the requirements set forth in Rule 651(c). Smith, 2020 IL

App (1st) 181220, ¶ 20.

¶ 35   Further, this court concluded that, because Rule 651(c)’s purpose was to ensure that a

defendant receives reasonable assistance of counsel under the Act, and original postconviction

counsel certified that she complied with those duties, original postconviction counsel’s Rule

651(c) certificate created a rebuttable presumption that the defendant received reasonable

assistance. Smith, 2020 IL App (1st) 181220, ¶ 23. Therefore, new postconviction counsel, who

was appointed prior to the hearing on the State’s motion to dismiss but after initial counsel had

provided the requisite reasonable assistance, was not required to duplicate original postconviction

counsel’s efforts and independently perform the duties specified in Rule 651(c) to provide

reasonable assistance at the hearing on the State’s motion to dismiss. Smith, 2020 IL App (1st)

181220, ¶ 23. Thus, because the defendant did not rebut the presumption of reasonable assistance

created by original postconviction counsel’s Rule 651(c) certificate or identify any specific

deficiency in new postconviction counsel’s performance other than her failure to independently

comply with Rule 651(c), remand was unwarranted. Smith, 2020 IL App (1st) 181220, ¶ 24.

¶ 36   As in Smith, defendant has failed to rebut the presumption of reasonable assistance created

by original postconviction counsel APD McClure’s Rule 651(c) certificate. The record shows APD

McClure filed a Rule 651(c) certificate, certifying she met with defendant, ascertained his claims

of constitutional deprivations, and supplemented his petition to adequately present his claims. APD

                                              - 12 -
No. 1-19-2008

McClure framed defendant’s claim regarding the DOJ report as one of ineffective assistance of

trial counsel for failure to discover and present the report to support the theory of defense at trial.

Defendant does not contend that APD McClure failed to comply with Rule 651(c).2

¶ 37    APD Clough stood on the previously-filed Rule 651(c) certificate, and the record shows

she provided reasonable assistance as mandated by the Act by reviewing the record, filing a

response to the State’s motion to dismiss, and arguing at the motion hearing. In other words, APD

Clough performed the “limited role” required of her after APD McClure complied with Rule

651(c). See Smith, 2020 IL App (1st) 181220, ¶ 20. In light of this showing, APD Clough was not

required to duplicate APD McClure’s efforts and file her own Rule 651(c) certificate. See Smith,

2020 IL App (1st) 181220, ¶ 23.

¶ 38    Defendant argues that, without a Rule 651(c) certificate, the record must contain a clear

and affirmative showing of compliance, and here, the record contains a clear and affirmative

showing of noncompliance. He claims postconviction counsel provided unreasonable assistance

for failing to argue the merits of his actual innocence claim, make necessary amendments to that

claim in his petition or frame it as a Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), violation, and seek a

ruling on that claim from the circuit court. He also argues that the record shows APD Clough did

not provide reasonable assistance because she stated at one hearing that she needed the scanned

record in order to file her response to the State’s motion to dismiss. We note defendant does not

        2
           Defendant appears at one point to confuse APD McClure with APD Clough. He argues,
“Although counsel incorporated [defendant’s] actual innocence claim in the supplemental petition, she
failed to argue the merits of, and seek a ruling on, that claim.” The first part of the sentence necessarily
refers to APD McClure, who drafted the supplemental petition, while the second part refers to APD
Clough, who argued defendant’s claims in response to the State’s motion to dismiss. However, as
mentioned previously, defendant clearly direct his claims regarding unreasonable assistance of
postconviction counsel solely at APD Clough.

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No. 1-19-2008

argue that he made a substantial showing of a constitutional violation with respect to his actual

innocence claim, only that postconviction counsel’s performance was unreasonable in presenting

that claim.

¶ 39   As held above, APD Clough was not required to file a Rule 651(c) certificate and could

stand on APD McClure’s unchallenged certification, which created a rebuttable presumption that

the defendant received reasonable assistance. See Smith, 2020 IL App (1st) 181220, ¶ 23. Further,

we disagree with defendant’s assessment of her performance. The record shows APD Clough

provided reasonable assistance by reviewing the record and responding to and arguing against the

State’s motion to dismiss. Although defendant would have preferred counsel make an actual

innocence argument premised on the DOJ report rather than an ineffective assistance of trial

counsel argument in her response to the State’s motion to dismiss and argument against that

motion, the facts set forth in the DOJ report did not support an actual innocence claim. See People

v. Sanders, 2016 IL 118123, ¶ 46 (to advance to the third stage of postconviction proceedings

based upon a claim of actual innocence, a petitioner must show that the evidence is newly

discovered, material and not merely cumulative, and of such conclusive character that it would

probably change the result on retrial).

¶ 40   Defendant was convicted of aggravated battery of correctional officers Nichols and

Lombardi for kicking Lombardi and causing bodily harm, making physical contact of an insulting

or provoking nature by kicking Lombardi, and making physical contact of an insulting or

provoking nature by throwing liquid on Nichols, while the two officers were performing their

official duties. See 720 ILCS 5/12-4(b)(6) (West 2006) (recodified as 720 ILCS 5/12-3.05(d)(4)).

The testimony at trial established defendant threw liquid on Nichols, struggled with the officers,

                                              - 14 -
No. 1-19-2008

and kicked Lombardi, causing injuries to his mouth. The excerpt from the DOJ report allegedly

pertaining to defendant shows he threw a cup containing liquid on an officer after being refused

dinner and was subsequently attacked by several officers. The DOJ report corroborates that

defendant did, in fact, throw liquid on an officer, and is silent regarding whether he kicked

Lombardi. Thus, even if the report was newly discovered, it is not probative of defendant’s guilt

or innocence and is not of such conclusive character that it would probably change the result on

retrial because. It therefore does not support an actual innocence claim. Sanders, 2016 IL 118123,

¶ 46. Accordingly, defendant cannot show that counsel provided unreasonable assistance by failing

to amend his actual innocence claim to include the DOJ report, argue it before the circuit court,

and obtain a ruling on its merits.

¶ 41   Defendant next contends his petition should be remanded for a third-stage evidentiary

hearing as he made a substantial showing that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to introduce

his medical records into evidence.

¶ 42   At the second stage, the dismissal of a petition is warranted only when the allegations in

the petition, liberally construed in light of the original trial record, fail to make a substantial

showing of a constitutional violation. Hall, 217 Ill. 2d at 334. At this stage, the trial court is

“concerned merely with determining whether the petition’s allegations sufficiently demonstrate a

constitutional infirmity which would necessitate relief under the Act” (People v. Coleman, 183 Ill.

2d 366, 380 (1998)), and “all well-pleaded facts that are not positively rebutted by the trial record

are to be taken as true” (People v. Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d 458, 473 (2006)). The defendant “bears

the burden of making a substantial showing of a constitutional violation.” Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d at

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No. 1-19-2008

473. We review the trial court’s dismissal of defendant’s postconviction petition without an

evidentiary hearing de novo. Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d at 473.

¶ 43    To determine whether defendant was denied his right to effective assistance of counsel, we

apply the two-prong test set forth in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). People v.

Enis, 194 Ill. 2d 361, 376 (2000). Defendant must show, first, that “counsel’s representation fell

below an objective standard of reasonableness” (Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687-88) and, second, that

he was prejudiced such that “there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional

errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different” (Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694). “A

reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome, namely,

that counsel’s deficient performance rendered the result of the trial unreliable or the proceeding

fundamentally unfair.” Enis, 194 Ill. 2d at 376. To prevail on a claim of ineffective assistance, a

defendant must satisfy both prongs of the Strickland test. Enis, 194 Ill. 2d at 377. Thus, we may

proceed directly to the prejudice prong. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697 (“[A] court need not determine

whether counsel’s performance was deficient before examining the prejudice suffered by

defendant as a result of the alleged deficiencies.”)

¶ 44    Defendant claims trial counsel should have introduced his medical records at trial because

counsel relied on them in his closing argument and they would have “further weakened the State’s

theory of the case, undermining the officers’ testimony.” 3

        3
           The parties dispute whether the State waived the affirmative defense of timeliness with respect
to this issue. The State argues defendant’s petition was untimely under the Act and, therefore, his
ineffective assistance of trial counsel claim is procedurally barred. Defendant contends the State waived
the right to assert timeliness because, at the hearing on the State’s motion to dismiss, the ASA stated she
“erased it from [her] motion.” The State’s motion to dismiss reflects it raised a timeliness defense, and the
State on appeal argues the ASA’s comment was a transcription error. Because we dispose of defendant’s
claim on the merits, we decline to address this argument.

                                                   - 16 -
No. 1-19-2008

¶ 45   Decisions as to which witnesses to call or what evidence to present are viewed as matters

of trial strategy and “generally immune from claims of ineffective assistance of counsel.” People

v. West, 187 Ill. 2d 418, 432 (1999). “The only exception to this [general] rule is when counsel’s

chosen trial strategy is so unsound that counsel entirely fails to conduct any meaningful adversarial

testing.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) West, 187 Ill. 2d at 432-33.

¶ 46   Here, we need not determine whether counsel’s failure to introduce defendant’s medical

records was deficient because defendant cannot demonstrate prejudice. Strickland, 466 U.S. at

697. The extent of defendant’s injuries does not undermine his guilt in the instant case where the

issue was whether defendant committed batteries against the officers who were performing their

official duties, not whether he suffered injury in committing the offenses. 720 ILCS 5/12-4(b)(6)

(West 2006) (recodified as 720 ILCS 5/12-3.05(d)(4)). As set forth above, defendant was

convicted of aggravated battery of correctional officers Nichols and Lombardi for kicking

Lombardi and causing bodily harm, making physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature

by kicking Lombardi, and making physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature by throwing

liquid on Nichols, while the two officers were performing their official duties. 720 ILCS 5/12-

4(b)(6) (West 2006). The evidence established defendant threw a cup of liquid on Officer Nichols

and then grabbed him, which resulted in a physical altercation between the two. When Officer

Lombardi arrived to assist Nichols, defendant struggled against the officers and kicked Lombardi

in the mouth, bruising his lip and chipping his tooth, which required medical attention. Further,

both officers acknowledged that defendant also required medical attention, and Nichols admitted

defendant had blood on him. Because medical records showing the injuries defendant sustained

during the melee were not probative of whether he committed batteries against the officers, we

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No. 1-19-2008

cannot say that he was prejudiced by trial counsel’s failure to introduce this evidence at trial.

Accordingly, we find defendant failed to make a substantial showing of a constitutional violation

of ineffective assistance of trial counsel.

¶ 47    For the foregoing reasons, we affirm the judgment of the circuit court of Cook County.

¶ 48    Affirmed.

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