People v. Eppinger
Ill.
ILLINOIS OFFICIAL REPORTS
Supreme Court
People v. Eppinger, 2013 IL 114121
Caption in Supreme THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Appellant, v.
Court: DOMINICK EPPINGER, Appellee.
Docket No. 114121
Filed February 22, 2013
Held The trial in absentia statute was not applicable and there was no plain
(Note: This syllabus error calling for a new trial where an accused who had been dissatisfied
constitutes no part of with his first two public defenders waived his right to counsel and elected
the opinion of the court to proceed pro se, but asked for new counsel when it was time for jury
but has been prepared selection and, when this was refused, remained in his cell and did not
by the Reporter of participate in the voir dire.
Decisions for the
convenience of the
reader.)
Decision Under Appeal from the Appellate Court for the Third District; heard in that
Review court on appeal from the Circuit Court of Peoria County, the Hon. James
E. Shadid, Judge, presiding.
Judgment Appellate court judgment reversed.
Circuit court judgment affirmed.
Counsel on Lisa Madigan, Attorney General, of Springfield, and Jerry Brady, State’s
Appeal Attorney, of Peoria (Michael A. Scodro, Solicitor General, and Michael
M. Glick, Retha Stotts and Erica Seyburn, Assistant Attorneys General,
of Chicago, and Patrick Delfino, Terry A. Mertel and Robert M. Hansen,
of the Office of the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor, of Ottawa, of
counsel), for the People.
Michael J. Pelletier, State Appellate Defender, Thomas A. Lilien, Deputy
Defender, and Fletcher P. Hamill, Assistant Appellate Defender, of the
Office of the State Appellate Defender, of Elgin, for appellee.
Justices JUSTICE THEIS delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.
Chief Justice Kilbride and Justices Thomas, Garman, and Karmeier
concurred in the judgment and opinion.
Justice Burke dissented, with opinion, joined by Justice Freeman.
OPINION
¶1 Following a jury trial in the circuit court of Peoria County, defendant Dominick Eppinger
was found guilty of attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, two counts of
armed robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, and was sentenced to 95
years’ imprisonment. The appellate court reversed and remanded for a new trial. 2012 IL App
(3d) 100577-U. The principal issue in this appeal is whether the trial court violated section
115-4.1(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Code) (725 ILCS 5/115-4.1(a) (West
2010)) (sometimes referred to as the trial in absentia statute) when, following the refusal of
defendant pro se to leave his holding cell and participate in his trial, the court conducted voir
dire without first appointing counsel to represent defendant.
¶2 For the reasons discussed below, we hold that section 115-4.1(a) of the Code is
inapplicable under the facts of this case, and thus the trial court did not violate the statute.
Accordingly, we reverse the judgment of the appellate court.
¶3 BACKGROUND
¶4 On December 9, 2008, the Peoria County grand jury entered a multicount indictment
against defendant in connection with an armed robbery earlier that month during which one
of the victims was shot multiple times, sustaining permanent injuries. Defendant entered a
plea of not guilty, and the trial court appointed the public defender to represent him. Defense
counsel filed a motion to suppress defendant’s oral statements to police, including a
videotaped statement in which defendant admitted his participation in the armed robbery and
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shooting. The jury trial, originally set for March 9, 2009, was continued to June 8, 2009.
After an evidentiary hearing, the trial court denied defense counsel’s suppression motion.
Defendant thereafter requested the appointment of a different public defender, who would
keep him better informed and represent him “a little bit better.” Defense counsel stated that
communication with her client had “broken down.” The trial court granted the request for
appointment of new counsel and continued the trial date to August 24, 2009.
¶5 Defendant’s new public defender filed a motion to suppress the identification of
defendant during a photographic lineup. Before that motion could be heard, on August 18,
2009, six days before trial, defendant requested that he be allowed to proceed pro se.
Defendant stated that he felt he could defend himself “better than the public defender can.”
After admonishing defendant about the difficulties of self-representation and the possible
penalties he faced, the trial court granted defendant’s request, finding defendant knowingly
and voluntarily waived his right to counsel. On defendant’s motion, the jury trial was
continued to October 19, 2009.
¶6 On September 11, 2009, the case was up for review and tender of discovery to defendant.
The court noted, on the record, that defendant was “creating quite a ruckus in the bullpen”
and that the court could hear defendant pounding. The court later cautioned defendant that
although he had a right to represent himself, if he disrupted the proceedings, he could be
removed, and the trial would proceed without him.
¶7 Defendant elected not to proceed on the motion to suppress identification that his former
public defender filed, and instead filed a series of pro se motions challenging the
photographic lineup. Of necessity, the trial date was continued to January 11, 2010.
Following an evidentiary hearing on December 10, 2009, the trial court denied defendant’s
motions. As to the January 11, 2010, trial, upon questioning by the trial court, defendant
stated several times that he was ready for trial. Defendant further stated that he would not be
calling any witnesses and a pretrial conference was unnecessary.
¶8 On December 12, 2009, defendant sent a letter to the trial judge requesting, inter alia,
appointment of standby counsel. At a hearing five days later, defendant indicated his
continued desire to represent himself at trial, and that he was requesting standby counsel to
ensure he would follow the correct procedure and that none of his rights would be violated.
The trial court denied defendant’s request. Defendant again indicated he was ready for trial.
¶9 On December 26, 2009, defendant wrote a letter to the trial judge regarding a discovery
matter which the court took up on January 5, 2010. At that time, the court also covered the
particulars of how the trial would proceed, advising defendant that jury selection would begin
the afternoon of January 11, 2010. Defendant agreed with the trial court that the jury would
be told that counsel was available to defendant, and defendant chose to represent himself.
Defendant also agreed to make a list of questions he would like the jurors to be asked.
¶ 10 Six days later, on the morning of trial, defendant changed course. Defendant advised the
court that he no longer wished to represent himself and requested appointment of counsel.
The State objected, arguing that defendant’s request was simply a delay tactic. Defendant
interjected: “I’m not representing myself. I don’t care—I don’t care what she [the assistant
State’s Attorney] say[s]. I’m not going to trial by myself. I won’t do it.” The trial court
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agreed with the State that defendant’s request for appointment of counsel was made for the
purpose of delay and denied that request. The court addressed defendant:
“I don’t think anything has changed. You made an intelligent and knowing waiver
of your right to counsel. You’ve been through two public defenders. You refused to
cooperate with them. You asked to represent yourself. You were allowed to do so
after questioning. You insisted on representing yourself at every court appearance.
We gave you an opportunity to say that you did not want to represent yourself. You
insisted on going forward even as of last Wednesday when we were in court. The fact
of the matter is I think today it’s simply for the purpose of delay that you ask for an
attorney. There is nothing in the record to indicate that you’re going to cooperate with
an attorney. You have a—you had a right to an attorney. Attorneys were appointed
for you. You chose to give up that right. You made that decision after lengthy
questioning by me, and at this point I still believe that this is just for the purpose of
delay, and your request now for appointment of counsel will be denied.”
The following colloquy then took place:
“THE DEFENDANT: I ain’t going to trial.
THE COURT: Well, this trial is going to start at 1:15.
THE DEFENDANT: I ain’t doing it.
THE COURT: How do you choose—are you going to choose not to participate?
THE DEFENDANT: I’m not participating, man.
THE COURT: You’ve previously been advised that trial could be held in your
absence.
***
THE DEFENDANT: I’m not going to trial, man.
THE COURT: I’m going to have you brought back out here at 1:15. We’ll go
through questioning again and—
THE DEFENDANT: I don’t want to talk to you no more.
THE COURT: And you can choose to participate or choose not to.
THE DEFENDANT: I’m not participating.
THE COURT: You are not participating at this point?
THE DEFENDANT: I’m not participating.
THE COURT: All right. We’ll revisit this at 1:15.
***
THE COURT: *** For the record, Mr. Eppinger has chosen to leave the
courtroom, even though he’s in custody. He does not—he just walked to the holding
cell.”
When the court reconvened at 1:17 p.m., defendant was not present. The record reflects that
prior to the start of jury selection, the following exchange occurred:
“THE COURT: *** We’re ready to begin jury selection. The Court has handed
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clothes that Mr. Eppinger’s mother brought this morning to the guard, and it’s the
report of the guard from the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department that Mr. Eppinger
refused the clothes and has refused to come into the courtroom; is that correct?
THE DEPUTY: That is so correct.
THE COURT: All right. That is consistent with his statements earlier this
morning and his refusal to visit with his mother when the Court made that available
to her and to him at mid morning this morning. The Court during a break was going
to clear the courtroom and allow Mr. Eppinger’s mother, Miss Causey, to visit with
him. He refused that visit as well.
So with that in mind then, Miss Hoos [assistant State’s Attorney], ready to
proceed?
MS. HOOS: Yes, Judge. I’m ready to proceed. Are we even going to bring him
out before we start jury selection just to ask him?
THE COURT: Well, I don’t want him to have to be forcibly brought out, so—
MS. HOOS: Okay.
THE COURT: I’ll ask the guard if you will please go back in and—and tell him
that he’s to be brought—he’s to come into court and—and answer if he wishes to
participate, okay? If you’ll just say that—just bring him in. I don’t know—but I don’t
want you to use physical force to have to do so. If he refuses, just come back out here
and report, all right?
THE DEPUTY: Yes, sir.
(Pause.)
THE DEPUTY: He refused to come out.
THE COURT: All right. Can you tell me what he said?
THE DEPUTY: He says, ‘I’m not going back into that courtroom. That’s
bullshit.’ ”
¶ 11 The court then proceeded with jury selection, advising the venire that defendant made a
choice to represent himself, and made a choice that day not to participate in the proceedings.
The trial court instructed the venire that the principles of law regarding the State’s burden
of proof, the presumption of innocence, and defendant’s decision whether to testify applied
notwithstanding defendant’s absence. After the newly selected jury was dismissed for the
day, the court again took up the matter of defendant’s participation in his trial:
“THE COURT: I’m going to sign an order that has Mr. Eppinger brought to court
tomorrow morning. We’ll make another attempt to see if he wants to be clothed in
the clothing that his mother brought for him and participate.
It looks to me like—is there a further report from the Sheriff’s Department?
THE DEPUTY: Yes. When I went back just before we started picking jurors, I
let him know we were picking jurors and asked him again if he did want to come out
to participate, and he refused, and he said he will refuse to come to court tomorrow.
THE COURT: All right. Well, I’m just going to make a record that he will be
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brought to court, but I don’t expect anybody to have to forcibly or physically remove
him from a cell to be brought to court or forcibly or physically remove him from any
holding cell at the courthouse to be brought into the courtroom.”
¶ 12 The following morning, defendant was present in the courtroom, dressed for trial. The
court advised defendant that the jury had been selected, and that the jury was told that
defendant had chosen to represent himself and also had chosen not to participate. Defendant
stated that he still felt he needed counsel, but was choosing to participate and was ready to
proceed.
¶ 13 The State’s evidence included testimony from four of the victims, each of whom
identified defendant as the person who had robbed him or her at gunpoint before shooting
one of the victims multiple times. The State also played for the jury a video recording of
defendant’s confession. Defendant called no witnesses and did not testify, but he made an
opening statement, cross-examined the State’s witnesses, and made a closing argument. The
jury found defendant guilty of attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm (which
merged with the attempted murder), two counts of armed robbery, and unlawful possession
of a firearm by a felon.
¶ 14 The trial court granted defendant’s request and appointed the public defender to represent
defendant posttrial. Although the public defender filed a posttrial motion, defendant filed his
own motion for a new trial, which he insisted on arguing. Defendant explained: “I didn’t
want nobody to argue. I want to argue myself. I just needed an attorney after my sentencing
to put in for my appeal.” After argument on both motions, the trial court denied relief. The
trial court subsequently sentenced defendant, who had two prior felony convictions, to an
aggregate term of 95 years’ imprisonment.
¶ 15 On appeal, defendant raised a single issue. Defendant claimed that the trial court violated
section 115-4.1(a) of the Code by conducting voir dire in his absence without the presence
of any counsel representing him. Because defendant failed to raise this issue in the trial court,
defendant sought review under the plain-error doctrine, arguing that the trial court’s alleged
error affected his substantial rights. The appellate court agreed with defendant and reversed
and remanded for a new trial. 2012 IL App (3d) 100577-U, ¶ 27. The appellate court held
that section 115-4.1(a) of the Code requires that counsel be appointed to represent a
defendant before trial in absentia may proceed, and that section 115-4.1(a) applies even
where a defendant has waived his right to counsel and chooses to remain in his holding cell
rather than appear for trial. Id. ¶¶ 7, 20. The appellate court declined to follow People v.
Reisinger, 106 Ill. App. 3d 148 (1982), which, under similar circumstances, held that section
115-4.1(a) did not apply to an in-custody defendant. Id. ¶¶ 19-20. The appellate court further
held that the trial court’s purported violation of the statute constituted structural error in that
defendant was denied a fair trial by an impartial jury. Id. ¶ 25.
¶ 16 We allowed the State’s petition for leave to appeal. Ill. S. Ct. R. 315 (eff. Feb. 26, 2010).
¶ 17 ANALYSIS
¶ 18 The plain-error doctrine permits a reviewing court to by-pass normal rules of forfeiture
and consider “[p]lain errors or defects affecting substantial rights *** although they were not
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brought to the attention of the trial court.” Ill. S. Ct. R. 615(a). See also People v. Herron,
215 Ill. 2d 167, 186-87 (2005). Plain-error review is appropriate under either of two
circumstances: (1) when “a clear or obvious error occurred and the evidence is so closely
balanced that the error alone threatened to tip the scales of justice against the defendant,
regardless of the seriousness of the error”; or (2) when “a clear or obvious error occurred and
that error is so serious that it affected the fairness of the defendant’s trial and challenged the
integrity of the judicial process, regardless of the closeness of the evidence.” People v.
Piatkowski, 225 Ill. 2d 551, 565 (2007).
¶ 19 Defendant here proceeded in the appellate court under the second prong of the plain-error
doctrine. In order to obtain relief, defendant must demonstrate not only that a clear or
obvious error occurred (In re M.W., 232 Ill. 2d 408, 431 (2009)), but that the error was a
structural error (People v. Thompson, 238 Ill. 2d 598, 613-14 (2010)). If defendant fails to
meet his burden of persuasion on each of these propositions, the procedural default will be
honored. People v. Lovejoy, 235 Ill. 2d 97, 148 (2009). The first step in our analysis is to
determine whether an error occurred. Thompson, 238 Ill. 2d at 613; M.W., 232 Ill. 2d at 431.
¶ 20 Defendant’s claim of error centers on the court’s purported failure to appoint counsel to
represent him at trial. As to this claim of error, we note that defendant did not argue in the
appellate court, and does not argue here, that the trial court erred by denying his request for
standby counsel some three weeks before trial, or by denying his request for appointment of
a third public defender on the morning of trial. Nor does defendant argue that he was entitled
to appointment of counsel as a matter of state or federal constitutional law. Indeed, defendant
does not claim that his waiver of his constitutional right to counsel was invalid for any
reason. Rather, defendant argues only that he was statutorily entitled to appointment of
counsel, i.e., once defendant decided not to participate in his trial by refusing to leave his
holding cell, the court had no choice, pursuant to section 115-4.1(a) of the Code, but to
appoint counsel before proceeding with the trial. Whether the trial court violated section 115-
4.1(a) devolves into an issue of statutory construction.
¶ 21 Our primary objective in construing a statute is to ascertain and give effect to the intent
of the legislature, bearing in mind that the best evidence of such intent is the statutory
language, given its plain and ordinary meaning. People v. Baskerville, 2012 IL 111056, ¶ 18.
In addition to the statutory language, legislative intent can be ascertained from consideration
of the statute in its entirety, its nature and object, and the consequences of construing it one
way or the other. Crossroads Ford Truck Sales, Inc. v. Sterling Truck Corp., 2011 IL
111611, ¶ 45. Where the statutory language is clear and unambiguous, we will apply the
statute as written. Nowak v. City of Country Club Hills, 2011 IL 111838, ¶ 11. If, however,
the statutory language admits of more than one reasonable construction and is thus
ambiguous, we will consider extrinsic aids to construction. Id. Because statutory construction
is an issue of law, our review proceeds de novo. Baskerville, 2012 IL 111056, ¶ 18.
¶ 22 Section 115-4.1(a) of the Code states in its entirety:
“Absence of defendant. (a) When a defendant after arrest and an initial court
appearance for a non-capital felony or a misdemeanor, fails to appear for trial, at the
request of the State and after the State has affirmatively proven through substantial
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evidence that the defendant is willfully avoiding trial, the court may commence trial
in the absence of the defendant. Absence of a defendant as specified in this Section
shall not be a bar to indictment of a defendant, return of information against a
defendant, or arraignment of a defendant for the charge for which bail has been
granted. If a defendant fails to appear at arraignment, the court may enter a plea of
‘not guilty’ on his behalf. If a defendant absents himself before trial on a capital
felony, trial may proceed as specified in this Section provided that the State certifies
that it will not seek a death sentence following conviction. Trial in the defendant’s
absence shall be by jury unless the defendant had previously waived trial by jury. The
absent defendant must be represented by retained or appointed counsel. The court,
at the conclusion of all of the proceedings, may order the clerk of the circuit court to
pay counsel such sum as the court deems reasonable, from any bond monies which
were posted by the defendant with the clerk, after the clerk has first deducted all court
costs. If trial had previously commenced in the presence of the defendant and the
defendant willfully absents himself for two successive court days, the court shall
proceed to trial. All procedural rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution,
Constitution of the State of Illinois, statutes of the State of Illinois, and rules of court
shall apply to the proceedings the same as if the defendant were present in court and
had not either forfeited his bail bond or escaped from custody. The court may set the
case for a trial which may be conducted under this Section despite the failure of the
defendant to appear at the hearing at which the trial date is set. When such trial date
is set the clerk shall send to the defendant, by certified mail at his last known address
indicated on his bond slip, notice of the new date which has been set for trial. Such
notification shall be required when the defendant was not personally present in open
court at the time when the case was set for trial.” 725 ILCS 5/115-4.1(a) (West
2010).
¶ 23 In People v. Ramirez, 214 Ill. 2d 176, 183 (2005), we determined that section 115-4.1(a)
is the second part of a larger statutory scheme, the first part of which is found in section 113-
4(e) of the Code (725 ILCS 5/113-4(e) (West 2010)). Section 113-4(e) provides:
“If a defendant pleads not guilty, the court shall advise him at that time or at any later
court date on which he is present that if he escapes from custody or is released on
bond and fails to appear in court when required by the court that his failure to appear
would constitute a waiver of his right to confront the witnesses against him and trial
could proceed in his absence.” 725 ILCS 5/113-4(e) (West 2010).
Reading these provisions together, we concluded that section 115-4.1(a) directs how a court
should proceed where a defendant, properly admonished pursuant to section 113-4(e),
willfully absents himself from trial. Ramirez, 214 Ill. 2d at 183.
¶ 24 This court has had occasion to consider the meaning of certain discrete provisions of this
statutory scheme. See, e.g., People v. Phillips, 242 Ill. 2d 189, 199 (2011) (interpreting
section 113-4(e)’s admonishment requirement in light of the warning, regarding trial in
absentia, contained on the back of a bail bond slip); Ramirez, 214 Ill. 2d at 183 (interpreting
section 115-4.1(a)’s requirement that the clerk notify an absent defendant of the trial date by
certified mail); People v. Garner, 147 Ill. 2d 467, 475-76 (1992) (interpreting section 113-
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4(e)’s admonishment with respect to experienced criminals); People v. Partee, 125 Ill. 2d 24,
41 (1988) (interpreting section 113-4(e)’s admonishment with respect to a defendant who
absconds during trial); People v. Maya, 105 Ill. 2d 281, 287 (1985) (interpreting section 115-
4.1(a)’s provision for payment of defense counsel fees from forfeited bail bond monies). But
this court has not had occasion to address whether section 115-4.1(a) applies to an in-custody
defendant who proceeds pro se, after waiving the right to counsel, and who refuses to
participate in his own trial, thus also waiving his right to be present. Although the State and
defendant both rely on what they claim is the plain language of the statute, they disagree as
to which language is controlling. The parties’ divergent views as to the proper reading of the
statute, as well as the current disagreement between the appellate court order in this case and
the appellate court’s opinion in Reisinger, are indicative of a lack of clarity in the statutory
scheme.
¶ 25 The State focuses on the statutory language which seemingly excludes in-custody
defendants. The State notes that the admonishments in section 113-4(e) are expressly framed
in terms of a defendant who either “escapes from custody or is released on bond and fails to
appear” (725 ILCS 5/113-4(e) (West 2010)), and that section 115-4.1(a) contains similar
language: “All procedural rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution, Constitution
of the State of Illinois, statutes of the State of Illinois, and rules of court shall apply to the
proceedings the same as if the defendant were present in court and had not either forfeited
his bail bond or escaped from custody.” (Emphasis added.) 725 ILCS 5/115-4.1(a) (West
2010). The State posits that this terminology “does not encompass in-custody defendants: a
defendant in custody has no bond to ‘forfeit,’ has not ‘escaped,’ and is not ‘absent’—he is
in custody, whether in his courthouse holding cell or in the courtroom itself.”
¶ 26 The State maintains that limiting the statute’s applicability in this fashion is consistent
with its purpose: guaranteeing the fairness of proceedings conducted in a defendant’s absence
where the defendant’s waiver of his right to be present at trial must be inferred from his
failure to appear. The State argues that no uncertainty exists and no such inference need be
made where, as here, the defendant is in custody and has made a valid waiver of his right to
be present and his right to counsel.
¶ 27 The State’s construction of the statute finds support in our appellate court’s opinion in
People v. Reisinger, 106 Ill. App. 3d 148 (1982), which the appellate court here declined to
follow. In Reisinger, the in-custody defendant, who was represented by private counsel and
then successive public defenders, elected to proceed pro se. On the day of trial, unhappy with
the court’s decision to defer ruling on one of his pro se motions, the defendant refused to
participate. After forcibly being brought back into the courtroom, the defendant voluntarily
waived his right to be present and refused to have the public defender, who had been
appointed as standby counsel, represent him. Trial proceeded in the absence of both
defendant and standby counsel, and a jury found defendant guilty of theft.
¶ 28 On appeal, the defendant argued, inter alia, that section 115-4.1(a) contains an absolute
prohibition against trials in absentia when the defendant is not represented by counsel. The
appellate court disagreed, holding that the defendant’s absence from trial did not fit within
the circumstances contemplated by the statute. Reisinger, 106 Ill. App. 3d at 153. The
appellate court discussed the defendant’s right to counsel:
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“The defendant had retained counsel[,] and two appointed public defenders
represented him in the instant case before he elected to proceed pro se. He was
obviously aware of his right to counsel and right to represent himself. He exhibited
a fair amount of legal sophistication and used every opportunity to enforce his rights.
When it became apparent to the defendant that his trial would commence, he
demanded both his own absence and the dismissal of his standby counsel. The record
establishes that the defendant deliberately and knowingly exploited his right to
counsel *** and consciously sought delay. As the Illinois Supreme Court recently
observed[,] the right of representation ‘may not be employed as a weapon to
indefinitely thwart the administration of justice or to otherwise embarrass the
effective prosecution of crime.’ (People v. Myles (1981), 86 Ill. 2d 260, 268,
***.)” Id.
¶ 29 Reisinger is the only published opinion to consider the applicability of the appointment
of counsel provision in section 115-4.1(a) to in-custody defendants and has gone
unchallenged for the past three decades.1 Although defendant concedes that “Reisinger stands
for the proposition that the judge was not required to appoint counsel in this case,” he argues
that Reisinger is contrary to the plain language of the statute. According to defendant, the
scope and applicability of section 115-4.1(a) is not controlled by the reference in that section,
or in section 113-4(e), to defendants who have escaped from custody or forfeited their bail.
Rather, defendant maintains that the controlling language is found in the initial sentence of
section 115-4.1(a): “When a defendant after arrest and an initial court appearance for a non-
capital felony or a misdemeanor, fails to appear for trial, at the request of the State and after
the State has affirmatively proven through substantial evidence that the defendant is willfully
avoiding trial, the court may commence trial in the absence of the defendant.” (Emphasis
added.) 725 ILCS 5/115-4.1(a) (West 2010). Based on this language, defendant maintains
that section 115-4.1(a) applies, without limitation, any time a defendant is “willfully avoiding
trial” even where, as here, the defendant is in custody but refuses to leave his holding cell.
Defendant further argues that the statute expressly requires that “[t]he absent defendant must
be represented by retained or appointed counsel” (id.), and that the statute makes no
exception for a defendant who has previously waived the right to counsel. Finally, defendant
argues that policy considerations favor an interpretation of the statute requiring appointment
of counsel in all trials in absentia, notwithstanding a previous waiver of counsel, because “a
trial with no representation of one of its parties is the antithesis of our adversarial system.”
¶ 30 Defendant’s reading of the statute finds at least some support in appellate court opinions
which, although not involving in-custody defendants, have spoken in absolute terms of the
need for representation at trial of an absent defendant. In People v. Gargani, 371 Ill. App.
3d 729, 736 (2007), for example, the appellate court held that the statute’s command that the
absent defendant “must” be represented by counsel is a mandatory obligation. See also
People v. McCombs, 372 Ill. App. 3d 967, 971-72 (2007) (holding that the appointment of
1
The appellate court’s decision in the present case, though parting company with Reisinger,
was filed as an order, rather than an opinion, and is not precedential. See Ill. S. Ct. R. 23 (eff. July
1, 2011).
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counsel provision in section 115-4.1(a) applies notwithstanding a prior waiver of counsel).
Defendant’s reading of the statute is also consistent with “our traditional distrust of trials in
absentia.” Garner, 147 Ill. 2d at 483.
¶ 31 Our job of ascertaining legislative intent is not an easy one where, as here, the statute is
not a model of clarity, and the reading of the statute advocated by the State and defendant
each has merit, i.e., both readings find some support in the statutory language and case law.
Taking into account the consequences of construing the statute one way or the other does not
bring us any closer to discerning legislative intent. Although defendant’s expansive
construction has the benefit of a bright-line rule applicable to all defendants who are tried in
absentia, it would permit an in-custody defendant to manipulate his right to counsel and
benefit from his own delay tactics. Under defendant’s reading, the trial court in the instant
case would have been required to appoint a third public defender and continue the trial date
while new counsel prepared for trial, with no assurance that defendant would cooperate with
this public defender, and even though defendant claims no error from the court’s denial of
his request to appoint counsel on the morning of trial. The State’s less expansive construction
would produce a different anomaly: an in-custody defendant who waives counsel and then
escapes would be entitled to appointment of counsel before trial in absentia, but an in-
custody defendant who waives counsel and refuses to leave his holding cell would not be
entitled to appointment of counsel. The State’s construction, however, would prevent
manipulation of the right to counsel; in-custody pro se defendants would not gain an
advantage from their voluntary absence.
¶ 32 We conclude that both interpretations of section 115-4.1(a) are reasonable, albeit for
different reasons, and that the statute is thus ambiguous. Nowak, 2011 IL 111838, ¶ 11. In
such cases, we may look beyond the statutory language and consider extrinsic aids to
construction in order to ascertain legislative intent. Id. One such extrinsic aid is legislative
history. County of Du Page v. Illinois Labor Relations Board, 231 Ill. 2d 593, 604 (2008).
¶ 33 This court has already considered the legislative history of section 113-4(e) of the Code,
which contains the admonishment provision, and has recognized that its primary purpose “is
to prevent ‘bail jumping’ and to promote the speedy satisfaction of judgment.” Garner, 147
Ill. 2d at 481 (citing 81st Ill. Gen. Assem., House Proceedings, May 25, 1979, at 151
(statements of Representative Kosinski), at 153 (statements of Representative McAuliffe)).
As discussed below, section 115-4.1(a) shares the same purpose.
¶ 34 Section 115-4.1 was first added to the Code in 1971. Pub. Act 77-1446 (eff. Sept. 2,
1971). As originally adopted, the single-paragraph statute addressed only the situation where,
after trial commences, a defendant “willfully absents himself from court for a period of 2
successive days.” Id. The statute provided that the absence of such defendant “shall not
operate as a bar to concluding the trial.” Id.
¶ 35 In 1979, with the adoption of Public Act 81-1066, the legislature expanded section 115-
4.1. Pub. Act 81-1066 (eff. Sept. 26, 1979). Although the legislature would twice more
amend section 115-4.1 to bring it to its present form (see Pub. Act 84-945 (eff. Sept. 25,
1985); Pub. Act 90-787 (eff. Aug. 14, 1998)), the legislature’s 1979 amendment added the
language on which the parties here primarily rely. The 1979 amendment also added the
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corresponding admonishment provision to section 113-4 of the Code. Pub. Act 81-1066 (eff.
Sept. 26, 1979).
¶ 36 The legislative history of Public Act 81-1066, which began life as House Bill 295, reveals
that the legislature’s intent was to address the problem of bail jumpers. As explained by one
of the bill’s sponsors:
“House Bill 265 is the Bill that’s aimed at bail jumpers. *** It’s [sic] intention within
Constitutional limitations is to get those people who deliberately jump bail to escape
prosecution. It’s Constitutional[ly] designed to give them every prerogative if they
have cause for such bail jumping. But it’s [sic] intention [is] to get at people such as
the people we’ve experienced in our county who on posting twenty-five hundred
dollars in cash on an aggravated rape and armed robbery, then deliberately jump bail
and are not heard of because they feel with overwhelming evidence twenty-five
hundred dollars is a cheap fee to pay for escaping a jail sentence. This was
particularly evident in the ‘Herrara’ case, an alledged [sic] dope smuggler from
Mexico in Chicago to whom they say one hundred thousand dollar[s] has no concern
to permit him to jump bail and return to Mexico.” 81st Ill. Gen. Assem., House
Proceedings, May 25, 1979, at 151 (statements of Representative Kosinski).
Representative Kosinski elaborated:
“This [bill] merely says that if a man deliberately, I repeat, deliberately jumps bail to
escape the state’s prosecution, the trial can proceed without him. *** [I]t is the
intention of the Sponsors of this Bill *** [t]o insure that for a few paltry dollars, a
man does not escape justice.” 81st Ill. Gen. Assem., House Proceedings, May 25,
1979, at 155-56 (statements of Representative Kosinski).
Another representative who spoke in support of the bill noted that when a defendant jumps
bail, by the time he or she is apprehended, witnesses may be dead or may have moved, and
that the bill would allow trial to proceed while witnesses are still available. 81st Ill. Gen.
Assem., House Proceedings, May 25, 1979, at 153 (statements of Representative McAuliffe).
Representative Katz voiced similar concerns, focusing on a perceived unfairness in the then-
existing statute:
“If the only right involved were the right of the defendant, it would be very easy
simply to vote ‘no’. The fact is that there is also the right of the victim to the crime.
You have the situation where the defendant has an incentive to jump bail. When he
jumps bail, then it is a matter of time until all the state’s evidence has been lost[,] ***
the witnesses have disappeared, the victim of the crime is no longer there and so ***
the present law gives an incentive to the bail jumper, an incentive that works contrary
to fairness to the victim of the crime.” 81st Ill. Gen. Assem., House Proceedings,
May 25, 1979, at 157 (statements of Representative Katz).
¶ 37 The legislative debates in the Senate similarly reflect that House Bill 265 was “designed
to correct a problem *** with bail jumpers.” 81st Ill. Gen. Assem., Senate Proceedings, June
27, 1979, at 219 (statements of Senator Sangmeister). Senator Sangmeister explained:
“[A] person can be picked up on an offense, post even a huge bail, particularly in the
drug cases, and at that time, skip out of bail. And at that time under the present law,
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unless a trial has commenced, there is no way you can try that person. So if he comes
back in, commits the same crime again, he’s picked up again and arrested, but he can
also make bond again because he has not been tried. This particular bill, if it becomes
law, will enable the ... prosecution to go forward and ... and try this person and there
are plenty of safeguards in the bill. For example, if he’s requested a jury trial, he’s
going to get a jury trial. He has to be represented by council [sic]. All of his
constitutional rights are absolutely preserved. But in the end, if there is a ... a
determination of guilt, the next time that person comes back in the jurisdiction and
is arrested, he can be picked up *** and confined rather than again making bail.” Id.
at 220.
¶ 38 The legislative history of Public Act 81-1066, when considered in tandem with the
statutory language, demonstrates that the General Assembly intended to target the problems
of disappearing witnesses and stale evidence where prosecution is suspended indefinitely
because the defendant jumps bail before trial even commences. Nothing in the debates
suggests that the legislature intended to address the entirely different problems that arise
where a defendant, who is in custody, essentially boycotts his or her own trial. Although such
conduct may delay the trial in the short run or disrupt the court’s docket temporarily, it does
not raise the specter that trial may be delayed indefinitely, which was the impetus for the
legislature’s adoption of Public Act 81-1066.
¶ 39 We note, moreover, that nothing in the legislative history suggests that the General
Assembly intended the statute generally, or its appointment-of-counsel provision specifically,
to be used by in-custody defendants as a sword to delay trial, or that the legislature intended
to remove the trial judge’s discretion when faced with an eleventh-hour request for
appointment of counsel. Rather, the debates as a whole reveal that the General Assembly
wanted to remove any benefit to a defendant who flouts the criminal justice system by
jumping bail.
¶ 40 Based on the language in section 115-4.1(a), as well as the related admonishments in
section 113-4(e), considered in light of the legislative history, we hold that section 115-4.1(a)
is inapplicable to in-custody defendants. Accordingly, the trial court here was not statutorily
required to appoint a third public defender and continue the trial date simply because
defendant, after waiving his right to counsel, decided to waive also his right to be present by
refusing to leave his holding cell.
¶ 41 We reject defendant’s argument that if section 115-4.1(a) does not apply in this case, then
the court could not have proceeded with voir dire in defendant’s absence because no other
statute authorizes trial in absentia. The fact that the statute regulates trial in absentia in
certain cases does not mean that trial in absentia is prohibited in all other cases. The right of
a defendant to be present at all stages of his trial exists as a constitutional right independent
of section 115-4.1(a) of the Code (U.S. Const., amend. VI; Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, § 8), and,
therefore, a defendant may waive that right—as defendant did here—independent of the
statute. In other words, express statutory authority is not a prerequisite to trial in absentia.
A trial, of course, must proceed within the confines of our federal and state constitutions.
Defendant, however, makes no constitutionally based argument that would require
appointment of counsel in the face of a valid waiver of that right. Instead, defendant’s claim
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of error is based entirely on section 115-4.1(a) of the Code, which we have held is
inapplicable under the facts of this case.
¶ 42 Because defendant’s only claim of error fails, defendant cannot succeed on his claim of
plain error. Accordingly, defendant is not entitled to a new trial.
¶ 43 CONCLUSION
¶ 44 For the reasons stated, we reverse the judgment of the appellate court that reversed
defendant’s convictions and remanded for a new trial, and affirm the judgment of the trial
court.
¶ 45 Appellate court judgment reversed.
¶ 46 Circuit court judgment affirmed.
¶ 47 JUSTICE BURKE, dissenting:
¶ 48 Section 115-4.1(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Code) (725 ILCS 5/115-4.1(a)
(West 2010)) provides that an attorney must be appointed to represent a defendant who is
tried in absentia. The majority today holds that this requirement does not apply to a pro se
defendant who refuses to leave his holding cell and participate in his trial. I disagree with this
conclusion and therefore dissent.
¶ 49 The majority initially finds that the language of section 115-4.1(a) is ambiguous.
According to the majority, the statute does not clearly state whether it applies only to those
defendants who have escaped from custody or have been released on bond and fail to appear
for trial, or whether it may also apply to an in-custody defendant. Supra ¶ 32. Relying on
legislators’ statements during the floor debates indicating that the statute was intended to
address the problem of defendants who jump bail, the majority concludes that section 115-
4.1(a) is inapplicable to defendants who remain in custody. Supra ¶¶ 36-40.
¶ 50 While I agree with the majority that the statute is ambiguous, I disagree that the
legislative history resolves the ambiguity. Throughout the legislative debates, the legislators
repeatedly refer to the problem of bail jumping and indicate that the statute was intended to
provide a mechanism, within constitutional limits, to try a defendant who jumps bail in his
or her absence. Nowhere in the debates do the legislators say, however, that the legislation
was intended to apply exclusively to bail jumpers. Still unresolved then is the issue raised by
defendant in this appeal—whether the statute applies to an in-custody defendant who refuses
to leave his holding cell. That issue was never raised during the legislative debates. “Not
every silence is pregnant.” State of Illinois, Department of Public Aid v. Schweiker, 707 F.2d
273, 277 (7th Cir. 1983). We cannot infer from the legislators’ mere silence in this instance
that the statute was not intended to apply to an in-custody defendant.
¶ 51 Because the legislative history does not resolve the question at hand, principles of
statutory interpretation may be employed to decide the issue. When interpreting an
ambiguous statute, we may consider the consequences which would result from construing
the statute one way or the other. Solon v. Midwest Medical Records Ass’n, 236 Ill. 2d 433,
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441 (2010). In doing so, we presume that the legislature, in enacting the statute, did not
intend absurd, inconvenient, or unjust results. In re Detention of Powell, 217 Ill. 2d 123, 135
(2005).
¶ 52 Section 115-4.1(a) provides that, “[w]hen a defendant after arrest and an initial court
appearance for a non-capital felony or a misdemeanor, fails to appear for trial, at the request
of the State and after the State has affirmatively proven through substantial evidence that the
defendant is willfully avoiding trial, the court may commence trial in the absence of the
defendant.” 725 ILCS 5/115-4.1(a) (West 2010). The statute requires that trial in the absence
of the defendant “shall be by jury unless the defendant had previously waived trial by jury,”
and that “[t]he absent defendant must be represented by retained or appointed counsel.” Id.
It also provides that “[a]ll procedural rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution,
Constitution of the State of Illinois, statutes of the State of Illinois, and rules of court shall
apply to the proceedings the same as if the defendant were present in court and had not either
forfeited his bail bond or escaped from custody.” Id.
¶ 53 This court has held that the legislature’s intention in enacting section 115-4.1(a) was “to
provide for a trial in absentia, within constitutional limits, if a defendant wilfully and without
justification absented himself from trial” (People v. Maya, 105 Ill. 2d 281, 285 (1985)), and
to “set[ ] forth the circumstances in which a trial in absentia may be conducted” (People v.
Smith, 188 Ill. 2d 335, 341 (1999)). We also have said that “[s]ection 115-4.1 provides for
trial in absentia. It does not create a kangaroo court. *** [T]he defendant who is absent from
trial, even willfully, retains some of the procedural rights of a present defendant.” People v.
Partee, 125 Ill. 2d 24, 31 (1988). Thus, the legislature specifically included necessary
safeguards in the statute in order to protect the absent defendant’s important constitutional
and statutory rights. See People v. Ramirez, 214 Ill. 2d 176, 184 (2005).
¶ 54 In addition, our appellate court has held that the appointment-of-counsel provision in
section 115-4.1(a) is a mandatory prerequisite to conducting a trial in defendant’s absence
and that the failure to appoint counsel for a defendant before trying him in absentia is
reversible error. People v. Gargani, 371 Ill. App. 3d 729, 736 (2007). Further, our appellate
court has held that even where a defendant had previously waived his right to an attorney,
the statute entitles the defendant to the appointment of counsel before being tried in absentia.
People v. McCombs, 372 Ill. App. 3d 967, 972 (2007).
¶ 55 Given this background, the majority’s reading of the statute is unreasonable. Under the
majority’s interpretation of section 115-4.1(a), a defendant who has invoked his right of self-
representation prior to being released on bond and who fails to appear on his trial date would
be entitled to appointment of counsel before a trial could be held in his absence, while an in-
custody defendant who invokes his right of self-representation and refuses to leave his cell
would not be entitled to appointment of counsel. In other words, the majority has concluded
that the legislature intended to afford greater protections to those defendants who jump bail
than those who remain in-custody. This cannot possibly be correct.
¶ 56 Moreover, this court has held that a trial at which neither the defendant nor defense
counsel is present is unconstitutional. People v. Davis, 39 Ill. 2d 325, 331 (1968) (citing
Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335 (1963)); Partee, 125 Ill. 2d at 39; People v. Barraza,
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193 Ill. App. 3d 655, 660 (1990) (“The role of the defendant’s attorney in the in absentia
proceedings is crucial to insure that they are conducted with due regard for the defendant’s
rights. In fact, the presence of counsel for the defendant is essential to make such proceedings
constitutional.” (citing Davis, 39 Ill. 2d at 329-31)). Presumably, the legislature was aware
of the constitutional restrictions on trials in absentia in the absence of defense counsel when
it enacted section 115-4.1(a). Thus, it is reasonable to assume that the legislature intended
the statute to apply to any defendant who is absent from trial, including one who refuses to
leave the holding cell.
¶ 57 The majority expresses concern that an in-custody defendant might use the appointment-
of-counsel provision in section 115-4.1(a) to obstruct the proceedings and cause delay.
However, by refusing to enter the courtroom and participate in his trial defendant waived his
right to represent himself. See, e.g., Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806, 834 n.46 (1975) (a
trial judge may terminate self-representation if a defendant “deliberately engages in serious
and obstructionist misconduct” and may appoint standby counsel, even over defendant’s
objection, to be available to represent the defendant in the event that termination of the
defendant’s self-representation is necessary). There is no reason, therefore, why the judge
could not have appointed counsel to represent defendant and continued on with the
proceedings. See also, e.g., Mayberry v. Pennsylvania, 400 U.S. 455, 468 (1971) (Burger,
C.J., concurring) (“A criminal trial is not a private matter; the public interest is so great that
the presence and participation of counsel, even when opposed by the accused, is warranted
in order to vindicate the process itself.”).
¶ 58 To be sure, appointing counsel might have occasioned further delay. But consider the
consequence of holding that the legislature did not intend for the statute to apply to in-
custody defendants because there might be some delay. Such a holding would mean that the
legislature intended for a criminal trial to go forward with no defense counsel present, no
defendant present, and the jurors placed in front of a completely one-sided, “kangaroo court.”
Partee, 125 Ill. 2d at 31. Again, in my view, there is no possibility that this is what the
General Assembly intended.
¶ 59 The legislature, in enacting section 115-4.1(a), intended to safeguard the constitutional
rights of a defendant who is tried in absentia, thus ensuring the fairness of the trial
proceedings. The statute explicitly provides that the defendant must be represented by
retained or appointed counsel. Construing the statute to exclude in-custody defendants leads
to absurd results: that the legislature intended to afford greater protections to those
defendants who jump bail than those who remain in custody, and that the legislature intended
for criminal trials to be conducted in “kangaroo courts.” I cannot reasonably conclude that
the legislature intended those results. Accordingly, I would hold that the legislature intended
for the constitutional protections in section 115-4.1(a) to apply any time a defendant is tried
in absentia, including those instances when the defendant is in custody.
¶ 60 JUSTICE FREEMAN joins in this dissent.
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