Court Opinion

ID: 9741993
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 21:05:08.420523+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:27.700019
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE MYERSCOUGH, specially concurring in part and dissenting in part: I respectfully specially concur in part and dissent in part. I agree the trial court properly denied defendant’s motion to suppress; however, I disagree with the majority’s holding that defendant was not entitled to Rule 402 admonishments during his stipulated bench trial. Defendant’s stipulated bench trial was tantamount to a guilty plea on count II, alleging the unlawful possession of cannabis. 720 ILCS 550/4(d) (West 2004). At defendant’s bench trial, defense counsel stated as follows: “It would be difficult for me to make any argument that there wasn’t sufficient proof of residence on behalf of this particular [d]efendant. It would also be difficult for me to argue the issue of possession when it comes to the cannabis. *** *** Of course, there is the felony amount of cannabis. And like I say, that was an appreciable amount.” The trial court found that it was “more or less conceded” that defendant was guilty on count II, which was unlawful possession of cannabis. The plain language of Rule 402 requires defendant to be admonished when he stipulates that the evidence is sufficient to convict. The rule states, “The court shall not accept a plea of guilty or a stipulation that the evidence is sufficient to convict without first, by addressing the defendant personally in open court, informing him of and determining that he understands the following.” (Emphasis added.) 177 Ill. 2d R. 402(a). The rule then lists the various admonitions defendant is entitled to, including the right to confront the witnesses against him. I agree with the majority that defendant did not stipulate the evidence was sufficient to convict on count I, the knowing possession of cocaine. However, because defense counsel stipulated the evidence was sufficient on count II, such stipulation was tantamount to a guilty plea on count II and required Rule 402 admonishments. The supreme court cases addressing this issue cite two situations where defendant is entitled to admonishments: (1) when the State’s entire case is to be presented by stipulation and defendant does not present or preserve a defense; or (2) the stipulation includes a statement that the evidence is sufficient to convict. See Phillips, 217 Ill. 2d at 283, 840 N.E.2d at 1202 (“[W]e held that a defendant must personally [(emphasis omitted)] waive the right of confrontation ‘when the State’s entire case is to be presented by stipulation and the defendant does not present or preserve a defense ***, or [(emphasis added)] where the stipulation includes a statement that the evidence is sufficient to convict the defendant.’ Campbell, 208 Ill. 2d at 218[, 802 N.E.2d at 1213]”). The majority relies heavily on Horton, which was decided in 1991. The court’s later decision in Campbell cites Horton only insomuch as it supports the first instance in which defendant is entitled admonishments. The court’s subsequent decisions in Campbell and Phillips make clear that the defendant is entitled to admonishments when the stipulation contains a statement that the Phillips evidence is sufficient to convict. Therefore, in addition to the plain language of Rule 402, the prevailing case law supports finding that defendant in this case was entitled to admonishments. I also disagree with the majority when it states that defendant’s sixth-amendment right to confront the witnesses “against him” was exercised during the motion-to-suppress hearing. During a hearing on a motion to suppress, defendant’s liberty is not at stake, the issue of guilt is not before the trier of fact, and the witnesses do not testify “against him.” See United States v. Andrus, 775 F.2d 825, 836 (7th Cir. 1985) (“The right to confrontation applies when the ability to confront witnesses is most important — when the trier of fact determines the ultimate issue of fact”). Rather, a motion-to-suppress hearing has a singular purpose of determining the propriety of the search that led to the State’s physical evidence in the case. In Andrus, the Seventh Circuit held that a hearing to determine the admissibility of hearsay statements did not entitle defendant to confrontation rights under the sixth amendment because the issue was not before the jury and did not determine the defendant’s guilt. Andrus, 775 F.2d at 836. Like Andrus, the hearing on defendant’s motion to suppress in this case did not afford defendant the opportunity to cross-examine. In fact, because a motion to suppress is almost always going to be filed by a defendant, the witnesses are usually called by the defendant and questioned on direct examination by defense counsel. Cross-examination during such motions is usually the province of the State. For these reasons, I specially concur in the majority’s decision affirming the trial court’s decision on defendant’s motion to suppress, but I dissent as to defendant’s conviction of possession of cannabis when he stipulated the evidence was sufficient to convict and was not admonished under Rule 402.