Court Opinion

ID: 9741618
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:59:29.163452+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:24.896412
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE GARCIA, specially concurring: I add two reasons to find plain error and reverse. First, while the Stump court concluded that the Zehr principles were substantially “addressed” before the prospective jurors, I find the analysis, guided by the holding in People v. Houston, 226 Ill. 2d 135, 874 N.E.2d 23 (2007), regarding compliance fails to consider the broader policy implications embodied in amended Rule 431(b). Stump, 385 Ill. App. 3d at 520 (“we find guidance in our supreme court’s decision in *** Houston, *** where the court failed to give full effect to the principle of strict compliance with the mandatory nature of the Illinois Supreme Court rules” regarding the recording of jury selection (emphasis in original)). See In re Marriage of Fotsch, 139 Ill. App. 3d 83, 87, 487 N.E.2d 84 (1985) (policy considerations expressed in similar case not present in instant case, thus prior case not controlling). In Houston, when asked whether he wanted a court reporter present during voir dire, defense counsel stated, “I don’t need it recorded.” The prosecutor immediately followed with, “People waive.” Houston, 226 Ill. 2d at 138. Houston is an ineffective assistance of counsel case, where a remand was ordered to assess the prejudice prong in the context of a Batson claim. If not for a Batson claim, Houston might well have been addressed as a stipulation case. See Smith v. Freeman, 232 Ill. 2d 218, 228 (2009) (individuals may waive “substantive rules of law, statutory rights and even constitutional rights” through counsel’s stipulation or agreement). Of course, the rule involved in Houston, mandating the recording of jury selection, did not place the decision to have a court reporter present expressly on the trial judge. I read amended Rule 431(b) before us to embody the public policy in Illinois to ensure the selection of fair and unbiased jurors in criminal cases. Prior to the amendment, the burden fell solely on the defendant to request the voir dire questioning now mandated by the amended rule. The amended rule now places the legal obligation that fair and unbiased jurors are selected directly on the shoulders of the trial judge. Cf. United States v. Rowe, 106 F.3d 1226, 1230 (5th Cir. 1997) (“trial court’s actions *** cut off the vital flow of information from venire to court” during voir dire process warranting reversal). Under the amended rule, she must “ask each potential juror, individually or in a group, whether that juror understands and accepts” the principles of certain basic constitutional guarantees. Ill. S. Ct. R. 431(b) (eff. May 1, 2007). When a judge fails to comply with her obligations set out in amended Rule 431(b) to ensure the right of a defendant to a trial before fair and impartial jurors, our judicial system falls short and, I submit, the integrity of the judicial process is impacted. Herron, 215 Ill. 2d at 178-79. Second, to the extent the rule in its current form places any burden on the defense to timely point out a trial judge’s failure to abide by the rule, the rule places that same burden on the prosecution. The prosecution should not be heard to claim forfeiture by the defendant when the prosecution itself failed to correct the trial judge’s omission. The prosecutor, as a representative of the people of Illinois, is there to ensure that those subject to our criminal justice system receive justice, as reflected in our rules and laws. As a representative of the people, the prosecution must know the rules and laws and do its part to ensure that the rules and laws are followed. When a trial judge falls short on what amended Rule 431(b) requires, the prosecutor cannot sit mute. The prosecutor must have an incentive to speak up.