Court Opinion

ID: 9725603
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 11:55:35.605664+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:12:14.471661
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE O’BRIEN, specially concurring in part and dissenting in part: I concur with the majority on one issue only: that the comments of the trial court regarding defendant’s use of a foreign language cast doubt upon the fairness and impartiality of the trial court and, thus, this cause should be reversed. Although the cases cited by the majority contain a more troubling situation than the case at bar, fundamental fairness dictates such a result. However, unlike the majority, I would remand for a new trial as there is sufficient evidence to find defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. On review, when confronted with a challenge to the sufficiency of the evidence, the relevant inquiry for a reviewing court is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the People, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. People v. Collins, 106 Ill. 2d 237, 478 N.E.2d 267 (1985). A court of review applies this standard regardless of whether the evidence is direct or circumstantial. People v. Pintos, 133 Ill. 2d 286, 549 N.E.2d 344 (1989). The reviewing court is not permitted to substitute its judgment for that of the trier of fact on questions involving the weight to be assigned evidence or the credibility of witnesses. People v. Campbell, 146 Ill. 2d 363, 586 N.E.2d 1261 (1992). Accordingly, a judgment of conviction will not be disturbed unless the evidence presented at trial is so "unreasonable, improbable, or so unsatisfactory as to justify a reasonable doubt of the defendant’s guilt [citation].” Campbell, 147 Ill. 2d at 375. Despite the assertion of the majority that the People’s case rested solely upon the statements of the defendant, the People’s evidence was that an eyewitness saw the defendant stop and speak with a friend within Carson’s, take possession of and carry away merchandise of Carson’s that had been offered for sale and fail to pay for that merchandise. The skirt was found in defendant’s car in the same shopping bag in which she had placed it. Additionally, in defense, defendant testified she paid for the skirt before leaving the store and that her friend received the receipt. Her friend testified defendant paid for the skirt and defendant received the receipt. Her friend further testified that she never gave anything to defendant to take from the store. Any rational trier of fact, when viewing this evidence, the inferences drawn from it and the credibility of the witnesses in the light most favorable to the People, could have found the essential elements of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. Accordingly, a remand is appropriate. Finally, the majority makes three comments that are troubling. First, it addresses the issue of the knowing understanding of the jury waiver when, clearly, the defendant has waived this issue by failing to mention it in her post-trial motion. People v. Enoch, 122 Ill. 2d 176, 22 N.E.2d 1124 (1988). Second, the majority asserts that the failure of the People to present a videotape of the occurrence indicates the tape contains no incriminating evidence. The majority cites no reported case holding such a presumption as a matter of law. And, the record shows the tape was merely misplaced. Third, the majority asserts that the trial court’s reference to the female public defender as "Miss Public Defender” without addressing the female prosecutor in the same fashion is indicative of actual bias by the court. Perhaps, the trial court just did not know the lawyer’s name. In any event, the majority cites no reported case holding that we must presume the term "Miss Public Defender” is indicative of actual bias by the court. Accordingly, I concur in part and dissent in part.