Court Opinion

ID: 3147584
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-10-22 18:34:01.242798+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:55:18.832492
License: Public Domain

ILLINOIS OFFICIAL REPORTS
                                        Appellate Court

                           People v. Minor, 2011 IL App (1st) 101097

Appellate Court            THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellant, v.
Caption                    MARY MINOR, Defendant-Appellee.

District & No.             First District, Sixth Division
                           Docket No. 1-10-1097

Filed                      December 9, 2011

Held                       Where defendant demanded a speedy trial on April 21, 2009, and then
(Note: This syllabus       failed to appear on a scheduled court date on August 4, 2009, because she
constitutes no part of     “mixed up” court dates, and on October 19, 2009, she filed a new
the opinion of the court   demand, the trial court erred in subsequently dismissing the case due to
but has been prepared      a violation of her right to a speedy trial, notwithstanding her contentions
by the Reporter of         that 183 days had elapsed since her initial demand for a speedy trial and
Decisions for the          that the speedy trial period was tolled from August 4, 2009, until her new
convenience of the         demand was filed on October 19, 2009, since she waived her initial
reader.)
                           speedy trial term when she failed to appear on August 4, 2009, the term
                           was not tolled, and a new period commenced when she made her demand
                           on October 19, 2009, and her speedy trial rights were not violated as of
                           January 6, 2010.

Decision Under             Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. TP-082-537; the
Review                     Hon. Pamela M. Leeming, Judge, presiding.

Judgment                   Reversed and remanded.
Counsel on                 Anita M. Alvarez, State’s Attorney, of Chicago (Alan J. Spellberg,
Appeal                     Veronica Calderon Malavia, and Anne L. Magats, Assistant State’s
                           Attorneys, of counsel), for the People.

                           Abishi C. Cunningham, Jr., Public Defender, of Chicago (Ingrid Gill,
                           Assistant Public Defender, of counsel), for appellee.

Panel                      JUSTICE LAMPKIN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
                           Presiding Justice R. Gordon and Justice Garcia concurred in the judgment
                           and opinion.

                                             OPINION

¶1          The State appeals the trial court’s dismissal of the driving under the influence (DUI) case
        against defendant, Mary Minor, on speedy trial grounds (725 ILCS 5/103-5(b) (West 2006)).
        The trial court initially denied defendant’s motion to dismiss the case, but granted dismissal
        on a motion to reconsider its original ruling. The trial court then denied the State’s motion
        to reconsider the dismissal. On appeal, the State contends the trial court erred where
        defendant waived her speedy trial demand by failing to appear on a subsequent court date.
        Based on the following, we reverse and remand.

¶2                                             FACTS
¶3          Defendant was charged with DUI on November 27, 2007. Following her arrest, defendant
        was released on her own recognizance with bail set at $3,000. On April 21, 2009, defendant
        filed a speedy trial demand pursuant to section 103-5(b) of the Code of Criminal Procedure
        of 1963 (Code). 725 ILCS 5/103/5(b) (West 2006). The case was set for trial on June 5,
        2009. On June 5, 2009, defendant again filed a speedy trial demand. On that date, the case
        was continued on the State’s motion to August 4, 2009. Defendant was in court when the
        continuance date was given.
¶4          On August 4, 2009, defendant failed to appear in court and the State answered that it was
        ready for trial. Defense counsel asked the court to hold defendant’s case until 1 p.m. because
        counsel was attempting to get in contact with defendant. The court agreed, but issued a bond
        forfeiture warrant when defendant did not appear in the afternoon. Defendant appeared in
        court the next day, August 5, 2009. Defense counsel informed the court that he attempted to
        reach defendant twice on the telephone the previous day, but defendant did not receive the
        messages until after 1 p.m. because she was at a doctor’s appointment. The trial court
        admonished defendant and quashed and recalled the warrant. The case was continued on
        defendant’s motion until October 19, 2009.

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¶5          On October 19, 2009, defendant again filed a speedy trial demand. The case was
       continued on the State’s motion until January 6, 2010.
¶6          On January 4, 2010, defendant filed a motion to dismiss as a result of a speedy trial
       violation. The motion was argued on January 6, 2010. Defendant argued that January 6,
       2010, was 183 days after defendant’s first speedy trial demand on April 21, 2009, which
       violated the speedy trial statute’s requirements of bringing defendant to trial within 160 days.
       725 ILCS 5/103-5(b) (West 2006). The State responded that defendant waived her right to
       a speedy trial in relation to the April 21, 2009, demand by failing to appear in court on
       August 4, 2009, citing People v. Patterson, 392 Ill. App. 3d 461, 912 N.E.2d 244 (2009). The
       State continued that defendant’s waiver caused the speedy trial term to restart on October 19,
       2009, when she next demanded trial. Defendant responded, instead, that her speedy trial
       period was tolled from August 4, 2009, until October 19, 2009; therefore, upon filing the
       October 19, 2009, demand the earlier demands were included in her speedy trial period. The
       trial court denied defendant’s motion to dismiss, relying on the “express language” of
       subsection (b) of the speedy trial statute. 725 ILCS 5/103-5(b) (West 2006).
¶7          On January 25, 2010, defendant filed a motion to reconsider. The next day, the State filed
       a response. On February 18, 2010, the trial court granted defendant’s motion to reconsider,
       reversing its prior order denying defendant’s motion to dismiss. In so doing, the trial court
       reasoned that subsection (f) of the speedy trial statute incorporated subsection (b), such that
       defendant’s speedy trial period was “suspended” from August 4, 2009, when she failed to
       appear in court, until October 19, 2009, when she filed her latest speedy trial demand. The
       trial court, therefore, dismissed the case for want of speedy trial. The State filed a motion to
       reconsider citing the recent case People v. Zakarauskas, 398 Ill. App. 3d 451, 924 N.E.2d
       578 (2010).
¶8          On March 18, 2010, the court held a hearing on the State’s motion. Defendant was
       represented by new counsel. The trial court directly questioned defendant regarding her
       absence on August 4, 2009. Defendant initially blamed her prior attorney for providing the
       incorrect date. Defendant then explained that she could not attend one of her court dates
       because her husband passed away. Defendant finally explained that she mixed up the August
       4, 2009, date with August 5, 2009. The court denied the State’s motion to reconsider, finding
       the Zakarauskas case distinguishable because defendant was not a “fugitive” when she
       appeared one day after her scheduled trial date. Relying on the “Appellate Court First
       District” case, the court found important the distinction between “explained” and
       “unexplained” failures to appear. The trial court found that, unlike the defendant in
       Zakarauskas, defendant provided an explanation for her absence, and, therefore, the speedy
       trial period was tolled. The court affirmed the dismissal of defendant’s DUI case.

¶9                                           DECISION
¶ 10       The question before us is whether defendant waived her speedy trial period by her
       absence in court on August 4, 2009, or if the period was tolled from that date until she next
       demanded trial on October 19, 2009. In order to resolve this question, we turn to the
       language of the speedy trial statute.

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¶ 11       The speedy trial statute incorporates a defendant’s constitutional right to a speedy trial.
       People v. Cordell, 223 Ill. 2d 380, 385-86, 860 N.E.2d 323 (2006). The goal of statutory
       interpretation is to ascertain and give effect to the legislature’s intent. Id. at 389. In order to
       do so, we look to the language of the statute, giving it its plain and ordinary meaning. Id.
       When the statutory language is clear and unambiguous, the terms must be applied as written.
       People v. Wooddell, 219 Ill. 2d 166, 171, 847 N.E.2d 117 (2006). Questions of statutory
       interpretation are legal and are reviewed de novo. Cordell, 223 Ill. 2d at 389.
¶ 12       Subsection (b) of the speedy trial statute provides:
           “Every person on bail or recognizance shall be tried by the court having jurisdiction
           within 160 days from the date defendant demands trial unless delay is occasioned by the
           defendant ***. The defendant’s failure to appear for any court date set by the court
           operates to waive the defendant’s demand for trial made under this subsection.” 725
           ILCS 5/103-5(b) (West 2006).
       The statute was amended to include the final sentence regarding waiver in 2000. Pub. Act
       91-123, § 5 (eff. Jan. 1, 2000). Subsection (f) of the statute continues:
           “Delay occasioned by the defendant shall temporarily suspend for the time of the delay
           the period within which a person shall be tried as prescribed in subsections (a), (b), or (e)
           of this Section and on the day of expiration of the delay the said period shall continue at
           the point at which it was suspended. *** This subsection (f) shall become effective on,
           and apply to persons charged with alleged offenses committed on or after, March 1,
           1977.” 725 ILCS 5/103-5(f) (West 2006).
¶ 13       In Zakarauskas, this court recently interpreted subsections (b) and (f) of the speedy trial
       statute. In so doing, the court said:
                “From 1977 until the 2000 amendment of section 103-5(b), a delay occasioned by a
           defendant’s failure to appear in court suspended the 160-day speedy trial term.
           [Citations.]
                The plain language of section 103-5(b) as amended in 2000 manifested the
           legislature’s intent to distinguish a defendant’s failure to appear in court from other types
           of delay, a motion for continuance, for example, either by the defendant or by agreement.
           We believe the 2000 ‘waiver’ amendment to section 103-5(b) controls the disposition of
           this case. Waiver includes the notion of relinquishment.” Zakarauskas, 398 Ill. App. 3d
           at 454.
       We see no need to depart from the well-reasoned Zakarauskas opinion, especially where the
       facts of this case are strikingly similar.
¶ 14       In Zakarauskas, the defendant was arrested for DUI and released on his own
       recognizance. The defendant made a speedy trial demand in April 2006 and, following
       several continuances by agreement, was absent on the date set for trial, October 6, 2006.
       When the defendant could not be reached by telephone, the defense counsel explained that
       there had been a “mix up” because defense counsel was on vacation when the defendant last
       appeared in court. The trial court entered a bond forfeiture warrant and continued the case
       to October 11, 2006. Defendant appeared on that date and filed a new written speedy trial
       demand. On the date set for trial, March 20, 2007, the defendant moved to dismiss his case,

                                                  -4-
       arguing that his 160-day term had elapsed. After initially denying the defendant’s motion to
       dismiss, the trial court reversed its decision and dismissed the charges upon reconsideration,
       finding the “delay occasioned by the [d]efendant” was within the meaning of subsection (f)
       of the speedy trial statute. (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id. at 452-53. The State
       appealed. On review, this court concluded the defendant voluntarily relinquished his right
       to trial within 160 days of his first speedy trial demand when he failed to appear. Id. at 454.
       This court noted that “[w]hen defendant failed to appear he was no longer on bail” and
       reasoned that “[i]f we were to treat a [bond forfeiture warrant] incident as comparable to a
       request for a continuance or other delay, a fugitive defendant would be entitled to the benefit
       of an earlier speedy trial demand when apprehended and again brought before the court.” Id.
¶ 15        Here, defendant first demanded trial on April 21, 2009. Defendant was then absent from
       a scheduled court date on August 4, 2009. Defense counsel attempted to contact defendant
       without success and a bond forfeiture warrant was issued. Defendant appeared the following
       day and eventually explained that she “mixed up” the court dates. Defendant next demanded
       a speedy trial on October 19, 2009. Applying the plain, unambiguous language of section
       103-5(b) of the Code (725 ILCS 5/103-5(b) (West 2006)), we conclude that defendant
       waived her initial speedy trial term beginning on April 21, 2009. The new speedy trial period
       began on October 19, 2009, when she again filed a demand. The speedy trial term was not
       tolled, as argued by defendant. As a result, defendant’s speedy trial rights were not violated
       as of January 6, 2010.
¶ 16        We are reminded that, in interpreting statutes, courts must consider the statute as a whole
       by looking at all relevant parts together. In re Jessica M., 399 Ill. App. 3d 730, 748, 928
       N.E.2d 511 (2010). Moreover, “[a]n amendment to a statute is presumed to be intended to
       effect a change in the law as it formerly existed.” People v. Craig, 403 Ill. App. 3d 762, 768,
       934 N.E.2d 657 (2010). The 2000 amendment to the speedy trial statute clarified that a
       defendant’s failure to appear in court operates as a waiver to a prior demand. Pub. Act 91-
       123, § 5 (eff. Jan. 1, 2000). The legislature, therefore, distinguished failures to appear from
       other “[d]elays occasioned by the defendant.” See 725 ILCS 5/103-5(f) (West 2006).
¶ 17        We find that “explained” failures to appear and “unexplained” failures to appear hold no
       relevance where there is no such distinction in the language of the statute. “We will not
       rewrite a statute under the guise of statutory construction or depart from a statute’s plain
       language by reading into it conditions, exceptions, or limitations not expressed by the
       legislature.” In re M.A., 356 Ill. App. 3d 733, 737, 826 N.E.2d 1071 (2005). Contrary to the
       trial court’s March 18, 2010, ruling denying the State’s motion to reconsider the dismissal
       of defendant’s case, in Zakarauskas, this court did not hold that an explained absence was
       relieved of the waiver result provided by subsection (b) of the speedy trial statute. Moreover,
       the Zakarauskas facts are not distinguishable from this case where both defendants “mixed
       up” the trial dates and their warrants were quashed and recalled within days, one day for our
       defendant and five days for the Zakarauskas defendant. The Zakarauskas language cited by
       defendant in her brief and apparently relied on by the trial court states that “we believe the
       legislature singled out an unexplained failure to appear for separate statutory treatment.”
       Zakarauskas, 398 Ill. App. 3d at 452. That language is found in the introduction of the case
       and cannot be extended to reflect the court’s holding. Whether the defendant had an

                                                 -5-
       explanation for his failure to appear did not enter the court’s calculus in finding the defendant
       waived his speedy trial demand. Id. at 454.
¶ 18       The Patterson decision supports our conclusion where it was held that the defendant
       waived his speedy trial demand when he failed to appear on the scheduled trial date.
       Patterson, 392 Ill. App. 3d at 467. The court went on to note that, waiver aside, the defendant
       would have failed to prove his speedy trial rights had been violated under subsection (f) of
       the statute where he contributed to the delay by failing to notify the trial court of his location
       after being released from prison. Id. at 467-68.
¶ 19       We, therefore, conclude the trial court erred in finding a speedy trial violation and
       dismissing defendant’s case.

¶ 20                                     CONCLUSION
¶ 21      Because we conclude that the speedy trial statute was not violated, we reverse the
       judgment of the trial court and remand the cause with instructions to reinstate the charges
       against defendant and proceed with trial.

¶ 22       Reversed and remanded.

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