Court Opinion

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Date Created: 2015-10-22 17:27:07.032375+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T10:00:32.247463
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cannot be considered the final decision of the Court. The

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                   Docket No. 77549--Agenda 17--March 1996.

      THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Appellee, v. RICHARD C. NITZ,

                                  Appellant.

                         Opinion filed June 20, 1996.

                                       

     

     JUSTICE FREEMAN delivered the opinion of the court:

     Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Williamson County,

defendant, Richard Nitz, was convicted of murder, aggravated kidnapping and

robbery. Defendant was sentenced to death for the murder conviction. On

direct appeal, this court affirmed defendant's convictions and sentences.

People v. Nitz, 143 Ill. 2d 82 (1991). A subsequent petition for certiorari

to the United States Supreme Court was denied. Nitz v. Illinois, 502 U.S.

927, 116 L. Ed. 2d 283, 112 S. Ct. 344 (1991). Thereafter, defendant filed a

petition seeking relief pursuant to the Post-Conviction Hearing Act. 725 ILCS

5/122--1 et seq. (West 1992). The petition was dismissed without an

evidentiary hearing.

Because defendant was sentenced to death for the underlying murder

conviction, the present appeal lies directly to this court. 134 Ill. 2d R.

651(a). For reasons that follow, we now reverse.

     Defendant's convictions stem from the 1988 murder of Michael Miley. The

particular facts surrounding the offenses for which defendant was convicted

and sentenced are recounted in Nitz, 143 Ill. 2d 82, and restatement is

unnecessary here.

     In his petition for post-conviction relief, defendant asserted several

claims which, he maintained, required the trial court either to grant him an

evidentiary hearing or a new trial. The circuit court determined that

defendant's claims were either waived or barred by res judicata and dismissed

the petition.

     We find a basis to reverse on a single one of defendant's claims. We,

therefore, limit our discussion to that particular claim.

                                    ANALYSIS

     A proceeding filed under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (725 ILCS

5/122--1 et seq. (West 1992)) is not an appeal. Rather, the proceeding is a

collateral attack on a prior conviction and sentence. People v. Mahaffey, 165

Ill. 2d 445, 452 (1995). The scope of the proceeding is limited to

constitutional matters involved in the underlying conviction which have not

been, and could not have been, previously adjudicated. People v. Whitehead,

169 Ill. 2d 355, 370, (1996). Accordingly, determinations of the reviewing

court on direct appeal are res judicata as to issues actually decided and

issues that could have been raised on direct appeal, but were not, are

waived. People v. Coleman, 168 Ill. 2d 509, 522 (1995).

     In this appeal, defendant contends, inter alia, that he is entitled to

a new trial because the State withheld information that it was administering

psychotropic medication to him throughout the course of his trial and

sentencing. The State's failure to disclose this information deprived him of

his constitutional due process right to a fitness or competency hearing.

Defendant presents two separate bases, either of which, he maintains, support

reversal of his convictions and the grant of a new trial. Prior to addressing

the particular arguments, we consider the nature and scope of the due process

right in the context of an accused's competency to stand trial.

     The due process clause of the fourteenth amendment prohibits the

prosecution of a person who is unfit to stand trial. U.S. Const., amend. XIV;

see also Medina v. California, 505 U.S. 437, 120 L. Ed. 2d 353, 112 S. Ct.

2572 (1992); see also People v. Eddmonds, 143 Ill. 2d 501, 512 (1991). A

defendant is considered unfit to stand trial if, because of a mental or

physical condition, he is unable to understand the nature and purpose of the

proceedings against him or to assist in his defense. Eddmonds, 143 Ill. 2d at

512. As Justice Kennedy recently emphasized, "[c]ompetence to stand trial is

rudimentary, for upon it depends the main part of those rights deemed

essential to a fair trial, including the right to effective assistance of

counsel, the rights to summon, to confront, and to cross-examine witnesses,

and the right to testify on one's own behalf or to remain silent without

penalty for doing so." Riggins v. Nevada, 504 U.S. 127, 139-40, 118 L. Ed. 2d

479, 492, 112 S. Ct. 1810, 1817 (1992) (Kennedy, J., concurring). Absent

facts which raise a bona fide doubt of fitness, there is an abiding

presumption that a defendant is fit to stand trial. Eddmonds, 143 Ill. 2d at

512.

     Part and parcel of the right not to be tried while unfit is the right to

have an inquiry concerning fitness. More specifically, where there is

information available to raise the possibility that an accused is

incompetent, the failure to inquire concerning competency violates the

accused's due process rights. Pate v. Robinson, 383 U.S. 375, 15 L. Ed. 2d

815, 86 S. Ct. 836 (1966); see also Drope v. Missouri, 420 U.S. 162, 43 L.

Ed. 2d 103, 95 S. Ct. 896 (1975).

     Long before the Supreme Court's pronouncement in Pate, Illinois

recognized that the denial of an opportunity to sustain a plea of insanity is

itself a denial of the safeguard of due process. In Brown v. People, 8 Ill.

2d 540, 545 (1956), this court held that "it [is] the duty of the court, when

a bona fide issue of sanity [is] raised, to determine that issue." See also

People v. Burson, 11 Ill. 2d 360, 370 (1957). The failure to observe

procedures adequate to protect a defendant's right not to be tried while

unfit deprive him of due process. People v. Murphy, 72 Ill. 2d 421, 430

(1978).

     Illinois jealously guards an incompetent criminal defendant's

fundamental right not to stand trial. The comprehensiveness of our statutory

provisions concerning fitness for trial, to plead or be sentenced serve to

illustrate this point. See 725 ILCS 5/104--10 et seq. (West 1992). Indeed,

the right not to stand trial while incompetent is sufficiently important to

merit protection even if the defendant has failed to make a timely request

for a competency determination. See 725 ILCS 5/104--11(a) (West 1992) (issue

of fitness for trial, to plead, or to be sentenced may be raised by the

defense, the State, or the court at any appropriate time before a plea is

entered or before, during, or after trial); see also Pate, 383 U.S. 375, 15

L. Ed. 2d 815, 86 S. Ct. 836. Furthermore, where it is shown that at the time

of trial certain facts existed which, had they been known to the circuit

court at the time of trial, would have raised a bona fide doubt of fitness,

the issue of fitness may be properly raised in a petition for post-conviction

relief. See People v. Smith, 44 Ill. 2d 82 (1969); People v. McLain, 37 Ill.

2d 173 (1967); People v. Harris, 113 Ill. App. 3d 663 (1983).

     With these principles in mind, we consider the merits of defendant's due

process claim. Defendant contends that the State's failure to disclose that

it administered psychotropic medication to him during the course of trial

deprived him of a fitness hearing and, thus, due process of law. The State

does not dispute defendant's assertions concerning the medication but,

instead, raises challenges designed either to defeat our consideration of the

claim or to deny the grant of a new trial.

     Examination of the record reveals that defendant's trial took place

between August 31 and October 25, 1988. Entries on defendant's "Medication

Log Sheet," which is included as an exhibit to the post-conviction petition,

identify Tranxene as medication, and indicate the dates, times and by whom

the medication was administered. According to the log sheet, Tranxene was

generally administered to defendant three times daily--once in the morning,

again at midday, and a third time in the evening. The first entry on the log

sheet indicates that administration of the drug began July 16, 1988. After

the morning dosage on August 29, no medication is recorded as having been

given again until September 2, when daily administration was resumed. No

medication was given on the morning of September 27 and medication was

"refused" on the evenings of October 13, 19, 20, and from October 22 through

24. No entries appear on the log sheet beyond the morning dosage administered

on October 28, 1988.

     Also included as an exhibit to the petition is the affidavit of Dr.

James O'Donnell, a licensed pharmacist. In his affidavit, Dr. O'Donnell

states that he has conducted extensive research on the effects of Tranxene

and other drugs on the human body. He describes Tranxene as a "valium

replacement/central nervous system depressant" used for the management of

anxiety disorders or for short term relief of the symptoms of anxiety. Dr.

O'Donnell states that the possible side effects of the drug are drowsiness,

confusion, depression, nervousness and substantial disorientation. Taken at

certain doses, Tranxene could effect any individual's ability to make certain

decisions.

     Additionally, we note defendant's affidavit in which he states that he

was unaware that he was being medicated. In this appeal, defendant posits

that the fact that he was unaware or could not remember that he was being

given psychotropic drugs may itself reflect the severe affects of the drug on

his mental processes. Finally, defense counsel's affidavit states that he was

unaware that defendant was being given drugs throughout the course of trial.

     As his first basis in support of a new trial, defendant offers this

court's opinion in People v. Brandon, 162 Ill. 2d 450 (1994), which construed

section 104--21(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (725 ILCS 5/104-

-21(a) (West 1992)). During the time of defendant's trial and direct appeal,

section 104--21(a) provided:

               "A defendant who is receiving psychotropic drugs or other

          medications under medical direction is entitled to a hearing on the

          issue of his fitness while under medication." Ill. Rev. Stat. 1991,

          ch. 38, par. 104--21(a).

     In Brandon, a majority of this court observed that section 104--21(a)

evinced a recognition by the General Assembly that psychotropic medication is

an important signal that a defendant may not be competent to stand trial.

Rejecting the State's arguments to the contrary, the court held that where a

defendant is being medicated with psychotropic drugs, the court has no

discretion to decide whether to have a fitness hearing. Rather, section 104--

21(a) mandates a fitness hearing. Because defendant Brandon had been

administered psychotropic drugs during the time of his trial and sentencing

and the trial court, "in the exercise of its discretion," denied him a

fitness hearing, reversal of the defendant's convictions was required.

     More recently, we have reaffirmed the holding in Brandon. Further, since

Brandon, this court has recognized that the legislature equates the

administration of psychotropic drugs with a bona fide doubt of sanity. See

People v. Gevas, 166 Ill. 2d 461 (1995); see also People v. Kinkead, 168 Ill.

2d 394 (1995).

     The State rejects Brandon as applicable in this case. In support, the

State points out that the underlying claim in Brandon was ineffective

assistance of counsel. Here, since no ineffectiveness claim is asserted, the

constitutional foundation for post-conviction relief is absent. That

defendant was precluded from having a fitness hearing pursuant to section

104--21(a), the State contends, amounts to no more than a statutory violation

not cognizable under the Post-Conviction Act.

     True, the violation of a statute or rule of procedure which does not

constitute a deprivation of constitutional rights may not be considered under

the Post-Conviction Act. 725 ILCS 5/122--1 (West 1992); People v. Hangsleben,

43 Ill. 2d 236, 239 (1969); People v. Orndoff, 39 Ill. 2d 96, 99 (1968).

Further, the burden to establish such a deprivation rests on the defendant.

People v. Silagy, 116 Ill. 2d 357, 365 (1987). Absent such a showing, a

petition may be dismissed without an evidentiary hearing. Silagy, 116 Ill. 2d

at 365. We believe, however, that defendant has met his burden.

     As we have stated, the scope of the right not to be tried while unfit

includes the right to an adequate procedure for inquiry into the issue of

fitness. See Murphy, 72 Ill. 2d at 430. In Pate, the Court held that the

Illinois court's failure to invoke the relevant statutory procedures deprived

the defendant of an inquiry concerning his fitness to stand trial. Thus, the

defendant suffered a due process violation.

     We recognize that due process does not mandate any particular procedure

for the inquiry; it requires merely that there be an adequate procedure to

implement the right to an inquiry. See Drope, 420 U.S. 162, 43 L. Ed. 2d 103,

95 S. Ct. 896. Thus, in this case, if, at the time of defendant's trial, the

court had known that defendant was being administered psychotropic drugs, the

court would have been dutybound to invoke adequate procedures which would

have afforded defendant the opportunity for an inquiry on the issue of his

fitness. See Brandon, 162 Ill. 2d at 459. The particular procedure to be

invoked is purely by legislative design.

     Here, the relevant statutory procedure provides for a fitness hearing.

Although defendant's right to that particular procedure is wholly statutory,

his right to inquiry concerning fitness flows from the due process guarantee.

Compare People v. House, 202 Ill. App. 3d 893 (1990) (right to be present at

trial is founded in constitution; therefore, absence of notice pursuant to

statute presents constitutional question), and People v. Culp, 127 Ill. App.

3d 916 (1984) (noncompliance with Supreme Court Rule 402 does not raise

constitutional issue unless violation rendered defendant's plea involuntarily

made), with People v. Maniatis, 297 Ill. 72 (1921) (speedy-trial provision

which provides that trial be commenced within given time period not

coextensive with general constitutional guarantee against arbitrary and

oppressive delays; thus, violation of speedy-trial provision does not

necessarily rise to level of constitutional dimension).

     Here, as in Pate, because no procedure was invoked, defendant was denied

inquiry into the issue of his fitness. Due process was thereby denied. As

such, defendant's claim constitutes more than a statutory violation and is

properly cognizable under the Post-Conviction Act.

     As an additional challenge to defendant's claim, the State finds

significant that the issue of defendant's fitness was not asserted either at

trial or on direct appeal. In light of both defendant's and defense counsel's

assertions of a lack of knowledge concerning defendant's being given the

drugs, we find it not as significant. Further, to the extent that the State

is suggesting waiver, we reject it out of hand. As we have stated, the right

not to be tried while unfit is highly valued. Not even the failure to timely

assert a fitness issue will cause the right to fall prey to the ordinary

operation of procedural default. McLain, 37 Ill. 2d at 177; Burson, 11 Ill.

2d at 370.

     The State next argues that the trial court, which observed defendant's

demeanor at trial and when defendant took the stand, did not sua sponte order

a fitness hearing.

     We perceive the State's argument to mean that, based upon these facts,

we may presume defendant's fitness. The argument is not novel; it has been

previously considered and rejected by this court. See Brandon, 162 Ill. 2d at

459-60, citing Pate, 383 U.S. at 386, 15 L. Ed. 2d at 822, 86 S. Ct. at 842;

see also Kinkead, 168 Ill. 2d at 409. On these facts, we do so again today.

     Finally, the State asserts that at a hearing on defendant's post-

sentencing motion, defense counsel specifically testified that there was no

indication that defendant was under the influence of drugs at the time he

waived jury sentencing.

     Notwithstanding counsel's perception, it remains an unrebutted fact that

defendant was being medicated with psychotropic drugs during the course of

criminal proceedings against him. Counsel's perception alters neither that

fact nor the resulting requirement for a fitness determination.

     In his post-conviction petition, defendant has provided documentation to

support his claim that he was administered psychotropic medication during the

period of his plea, trial and sentencing. Pursuant to Brandon, Gevas, and

Kinkead, the administration of these drugs to defendant raised a bona fide

doubt of his fitness to stand trial. Thus, a fitness determination was

constitutionally required.

     Incidentally, since our decisions in Brandon, Gevas and Kinkead, the

legislature has amended section 104--21(a) to provide that no fitness hearing

is required unless the court finds that there is a bona fide doubt of the

defendant's fitness. Pub. Act 89--428, §605, eff. December 13, 1995, amending

725 ILCS 5/104--21(a). The State does not suggest that the statute, as

amended, has application in these proceedings.

     Nevertheless, we find it appropriate to note the rule that amendatory

acts which are procedural in nature have retrospective operation for matters

which are pending on the effective date of the amendment or are subsequently

filed. 82 C.J.S. Statutes §432 (1953); see also Hogan v. Bleeker, 29 Ill. 2d

181, 184 (1963). As this is a collateral matter, the amendment, though

procedural in nature, does not apply. Cf. Eddmonds, 143 Ill. 2d at 523 (post-

conviction petitioner not entitled to fitness hearing under section 104--21

of statute since he was not receiving medication when that statute became

effective). Further, while the General Assembly can pass legislation to

prospectively change a judicial construction of a statute if it believes that

the judicial interpretation was at odds with legislative intent, it cannot

effect a change in that construction by a later declaration of what it had

originally intended. See People v. Rink, 97 Ill. 2d 533, 541 (1983); In re

Marriage of Cohn, 93 Ill. 2d 190, 202-04 (1982); Roth v. Yackley, 77 Ill. 2d

423, 428-29 (1979).

     It remains only to state what remedy is due this defendant. Where there

exists a bona fide doubt of fitness and no fitness hearing is held, a new

trial is the appropriate remedy. Defendant had no opportunity for such a

hearing. Therefore, defendant's convictions must be reversed, and this cause

remanded for a new trial.

     The State argues that the "automatic reversal" rule of Brandon, Gevas

and Kinkead is flawed and should be abandoned. The State suggests that a more

prudent approach would involve a remand for inquiry into the properties of

the particular drug, whether it was properly prescribed and whether the

dosage administered could have affected the defendant's ability to understand

the nature and purpose of the proceedings. If the defendant is able to

demonstrate that the administered medication rendered him unfit for trial, he

would then be entitled to a new trial. A new trial based on any less of a

showing, the State asserts, would result in a tremendous waste of judicial

and prosecutorial resources.

     We agree with the State that inquiry should properly be had on the issue

of the nature and properties of the drug, its dosage and effect on the

defendant's ability to understand and participate in his defense. The point

at which we diverge is the validity of such an "after-the-fact"

determination. We note here, as we did in Gevas, that "there are `inherent

difficulties' in attempting a retrospective `nunc pro tunc determination' of

defendant's mental competency even `under the most favorable

circumstances.' " Gevas, 166 Ill. 2d at 471, quoting Drope, 420 U.S. at 183,

43 L. Ed. 2d at 119-20, 95 S. Ct. at 909.

     Moreover, "automatic reversal" for the failure to have a fitness hearing

is not a new concept in Illinois. Even before Brandon and its progeny, where

a requisite fitness hearing was not provided, reversal was deemed the

appropriate remedy. See, e.g., McLain, 37 Ill. 2d 173; People v. Bender, 27

Ill. 2d 173 (1963); Burson, 11 Ill. 2d 360; Brown, 8 Ill. 2d 540. Finally, we

are cognizant of the costs and burdens which, as a result of this

disposition, must be borne by our criminal justice system. However, not even

our greater interest in the finality of judgments can outweigh the

safeguarding of a defendant's right not to be tried while unfit.

     At the time of defendant's trial and appeal, section 104--21(a), as

construed in Brandon, Gevas and Kinkead, required that defendant be given a

fitness hearing. As we have rejected any notion that a nunc pro tunc

determination of fitness can provide the necessary reliability (see Brown, 8

Ill. 2d 540; see also Pate, 383 U.S. 375, 15 L. Ed. 2d 815, 86 S. Ct. 836),

consistent with the reasoning and holdings in Brandon, Gevas and Kinkead,

reversal of defendant's convictions and sentence is required.

     As an alternative basis to support the grant of a new trial, defendant

contends that the State, by its failure to disclose information concerning

administration of the medication, violated the dictates of Brady v. Maryland,

373 U.S. 83, 10 L. Ed. 2d 215, 83 S. Ct. 1194 (1963) (holding that the

suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused upon

request violates due process where the evidence is material either to guilt

or punishment). Given our determination that defendant is entitled to a new

trial based upon a violation of his right to an inquiry on the issue of his

fitness, we do not address defendant's Brady claim. But see People v.

Sanchez, 169 Ill. 2d 472 (1996).

                                   CONCLUSION

     Defendant has established a constitutional deprivation. Thus, dismissal

of his post-conviction petition was not proper. The order of dismissal is

therefore reversed, and the cause is remanded with directions to set aside

the conviction and to grant a new trial.

                                          Reversed and remanded with directions.

     JUSTICE MILLER, dissenting:

     I do not agree with the majority's conclusion that the defendant is

entitled to relief under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (725 ILCS 5/122--1

through 122--7 (West 1992)). A post-conviction remedy is available only if

the defendant demonstrates a substantial deprivation of constitutional

rights. 725 ILCS 5/122--1, 122--2 (West 1992); People v. Ruiz, 132 Ill. 2d 1,

9 (1989). Because the present claim lacks a constitutional foundation, it

should be dismissed.

     For the reasons stated in my previous dissents, I continue to believe

that the right provided by section 104--21(a) of the Code of Criminal

Procedure of 1963 (725 ILCS 5/104--21(a) (West 1992)) cannot be equated with

a bona fide doubt of fitness and is statutory rather than constitutional in

force and effect. People v. Birdsall, No. 77259 (June 20, 1996) (Miller, J.,

dissenting, joined by Bilandic, C.J., and Heiple, J.); People v. Kinkead, 168

Ill. 2d 394, 417 (1995) (Miller, J., dissenting, joined by Bilandic, C.J.,

and Heiple, J.); People v. Gevas, 166 Ill. 2d 461, 472 (1995) (Miller, J.,

dissenting, joined by Bilandic, C.J., and Heiple, J.); People v. Brandon, 162

Ill. 2d 450, 461 (1994) (Miller, J., dissenting, joined by Bilandic, C.J.,

and Heiple, J.). While the defendant correctly observes that the arbitrary

denial of a statutory right may give rise to a due process violation (Hicks

v. Oklahoma, 447 U.S. 343, 65 L. Ed. 2d 175, 100 S. Ct. 2227 (1980)), that

principle is of no assistance to him here. The defendant never sought a

hearing under section 104--21(a), and the trial judge in this case did

nothing that was contrary to the terms of the statute. It should be noted

that the defendant does not contend that counsel was ineffective for failing

to raise this issue during the trial proceedings.

     The right now being asserted by the defendant is wholly statutory and

therefore cannot form the basis for post-conviction relief. By finding a

constitutional deprivation where none exists, today's decision grants a

windfall to post-conviction litigants, who now can raise for the first time

in a post-conviction petition matters that should have been raised instead in

the original trial proceedings.

     CHIEF JUSTICE BILANDIC and JUSTICE HEIPLE join in this dissent.