Court Opinion

ID: 9469459
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 02:41:14.040584+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:41:24.062245
License: Public Domain

PELL, Circuit Judge,
concurring and dissenting.
I concur in the court’s opinion as to Parts, I, II, and III but for reasons hereinafter set out respectfully dissent as to Part IV.
I.
In my initial examination of this appeal I had a question as to whether or not in the light of Rose v. Lundy, - U.S. -, 102 S.Ct. 1198, 71 L.Ed.2d 379 (1982), the case should have been dismissed in the district court because of exhaustion of state remedies. The particular issue on which the majority opinion affirms the district court was not presented to the Illinois Appellate *223Court. People v. Spurlark, 67 Ill.App.3d 186, 23 Ill.Dec. 860, 872, 384 N.E.2d 767, 779 (1978). It seems clear, however, under the law of this circuit, as is pointed out in the majority opinion, that Spurlark would be deemed to have waived the claim in question and therefore he could not proceed under Illinois post-conviction procedures.
Although I am bound by the law of the circuit on this matter, I do note that because of the current emphasis on the importance of comity, as exemplified in Rose, we are requiring the district courts in this “waiver” situation to consider issues which the state court had no opportunity to consider. The importance of comity is demonstrated in this case by the fact that the Illinois Appellate Court extensively in a thirteen page opinion gave careful consideration to all of the claims listed by Spurlark. At this belated date, to upset some of the judicial proceedings of the State of Illinois on matters concerning which that state’s court had no opportunity to pass, seems to me to violate flagrantly the rationale of comity underlying the Court’s decision in Rose.
II.
Assuming that the sentencing matter was properly before the district court, I cannot agree that it justifies affirmance by this court. As the district court found in its Memorandum and Order, Cornelius Toole1 was an experienced trial lawyer and, obviously, from the district court’s opinion, competently tried the case on behalf of Spur-lark, particularly when it is considered that he had a short time for preparation notwithstanding the fact that the case was not a complicated one and the proof of guilt was overwhelming.
The petitioner’s request for Sam Adam as retained counsel was made in a belated manner without any indication of necessity for such a request. In view of the continual abuse of the judicial process by those previously representing the petitioner and the petitioner’s refusal to retain an attorney who was ready to proceed to trial, it was reasonable for the trial court to believe the petitioner was only seeking to delay further the proceedings. The court, in implementing the “public need for the efficient and effective administration of criminal justice,” United States ex rel. Carey v. Rundle, 409 F.2d 1210, 1214 (3rd Cir. 1969), cert. denied, 397 U.S. 946, 90 S.Ct. 964, 25 L.Ed.2d 127 (1970), was justified in denying this dilatory motion so that the proceedings could finally be concluded. The record reflects that Toole did not ask to withdraw as counsel and was ready to proceed with the post-trial motions. The record further demonstrates that Toole had diligently prepared a detailed motion for new trial. The state’s attorney had received a copy of the motion and was ready to resist the arguments contained therein. Considering the procedural context of the petitioner’s last-minute request for additional or substitute counsel, the state trial court properly exercised its discretion in denying the motion.
It is also significant that while some preference was expressed for Adam alone, it was further acceptable that Adam be only a co-attorney in the sentencing matter. I find it incredible to believe that if this had been permitted there would not have been a diligent effort for a further delay in the sentencing procedure. It is obvious from this entire record that the petitioner had one main objective and that was to postpone the evil day of possible incarceration.
Because it was acceptable that Toole continue in the case on sentencing, the lack of a chosen co-attorney under the circumstances of this case, I do not believe, rises to a constitutional violation. The district court in originally denying summary judgment as to the sentencing matter stated that if the petitioner was denied representation of his choice in the sentencing matter, he need not show prejudice. Even if we assume this to be a correct statement of law, it appears to me that total lack of any showing in the record that Spurlark was prejudiced in any way would call for a denial of the writ on this issue because, even if this was a constitutional error, it was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. What the majority opinion seems to be doing is honoring a consti*224tutional right in a vacuum, an approach scarcely according a due measure of respect to the purposes and principles of comity.