People v. Carson

2024 IL App (1st) 221644, 241 N.E.3d 1052

• Court: Appellate Court of Illinois
• Decided: May 3, 2024
• Docket: 1-22-1644
• Status: Published

Opinion

2024 IL App (1st) 221644 No. 1-22-1644 Opinion filed May 3, 2023

Sixth Division ______________________________________________________________________________ IN THE APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS FIRST DISTRICT ______________________________________________________________________________ THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the Circuit Court ) of Cook County, Illinois. Plaintiff-Appellee, ) ) v. ) No. 04 CR 06367 ) JEROME CARSON, ) The Honorable ) Joseph M. Claps, Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, Presiding.

JUSTICE C.A. WALKER delivered the judgment of the court with opinion. Presiding Justice Oden Johnson and Justice Hyman concurred in the judgment and opinion.

OPINION

¶1 This appeal derives from the circuit court’s dismissal of a second stage postconviction

petition brought pursuant to the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Act) (725 ILCS 5/122-1 et seq.

(West 2022)). Petitioner Jerome Carson argues: (1) postconviction counsel’s Rule 651(c) (Ill. S.

Ct. R. 651(c) (eff. July 1, 2017)) certificate failed to raise a rebuttable presumption of compliance

because it is unclear whether counsel reviewed portions of the record necessary to adequately

present Carson’s claim that he lacked culpable negligence in filing an untimely petition and No. 1-22-1644

(2) even if the presumption of compliance was established, such compliance is rebutted by the

record that demonstrated postconviction counsel’s unreasonable assistance. For the following

reasons, we reverse the circuit court’s dismissal of petitioner’s postconviction petition and remand

to the circuit court for a new second stage proceeding.

¶2 I. BACKGROUND

¶3 Because the facts underlying this case are set forth in People v. Carson, 2021 IL App (1st)

1190810-U, we will only detail those pertinent to this appeal. Carson was charged with the offenses

of attempted murder and aggravated arson after causing a house fire that resulted in injuries to one

of the victims. Pursuant to a fully negotiated plea agreement, Carson pled guilty to the charges and

was sentenced to an aggregate term of 32 years’ imprisonment in February 2006. On January 30,

2013, 1 Carson filed a petition for relief from judgment, pursuant to section 2-1401(f) of the Code

of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2-1401 (West 2012)). In October 2013, the court and the parties

addressed whether the petition for relief from judgment should be reclassified as a postconviction

petition, and the case was continued for postplea counsel to have further discussions with Carson.

In April 2014, postplea counsel informed the court that Carson was withdrawing the petition,

stating:

“I have gone through this petition that he filed with—I went to State[s]ville on Monday.

We went through. We discussed some case law with regard to it. At this point, he is going

to withdraw this petition, Judge. If, in the future, he feels that there is something relevant

In his brief, Carson claims the petition for relief from judgment was filed in December 2012. The 1

record shows that the petition is dated December 5, 2012, but the only visible court stamp depicts the file date as January 30, 2013. We stated in Carson that the file date was January 30, 2013. See Carson, 2021 IL App (1st) 190810-U, ¶ 10.

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that he needs to file, he can go ahead and re-file it, Your Honor can appoint us if you think

it’s pertinent. But at this point, with what he has filed, we’re withdrawing it.”

¶4 On March 9, 2015, Carson filed a pro se postconviction petition, arguing (1) his absence

from a conference pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 402 (eff. July 1, 2012) held prior to the

guilty plea hearing deprived him of due process, (2) his conviction for aggravated arson violated

the one-act, one-crime rule, and (3) he was denied effective assistance of counsel because a plea

agreement was reached during a Rule 402 conference without his presence and consent and his

guilty plea was not knowing and intelligent. The petition advanced to the second stage of

postconviction proceedings, and the State filed a motion to dismiss. In the motion, the State argued

that the petition was untimely and Carson failed to make a substantial showing of a constitutional

violation. The court granted the motion to dismiss. Carson appealed, asserting postconviction

counsel rendered unreasonable assistance when he failed to amend the petition to present factual

allegations of Carson’s lack of culpable negligence in filing the untimely petition. Finding counsel

was unreasonable, this court reversed the circuit court’s decision and remanded for a new second

stage proceeding. Carson, 2021 IL App (1st) 190810-U.

¶5 On remand, newly appointed postconviction counsel filed a supplemental petition for

postconviction relief on the alleged violation of the one-act, one-crime rule and a response to the

State’s motion to dismiss accompanied by Carson’s affidavit. In the affidavit, Carson averred:

“6. The untimeliness of my postconviction petition was due to the fact that I am not

a lawyer and have not been educated in the complexities of the law.

7. I assumed that it was my attorney’s duty to correct any mistake regarding my

plea.

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8. I believe that my petition is not untimely because my sentence is void under the

one act one crime rule and challenges to void judgments can be raised at any time.”

¶6 Postconviction counsel also filed a Rule 651(c) certificate stating he (1) “consulted with

the petitioner, Jerome Carson, by phone, mail, electronic means or in person to ascertain his

contentions of deprivation of constitutional rights,” (2) “examined the record of proceedings at the

guilty plea, including the common law record, report of proceedings, and any exhibits in

possession of the Clerk of the Circuit Court,” and (3) “made amendments to the petition filed

pro se, they are necessary for an adequate presentation of petitioner’s contentions.”

¶7 The court held a hearing on the motion to dismiss. The State argued that the reasons for the

untimely filing on the petition stated in Carson’s affidavit were not “valid excuse[s]” to overcome

the timeliness provision of the Act. The State further argued that Carson’s claims of a due process

violation and an involuntary guilty plea were contradicted by the record and his sentence did not

violate the one-act, one-crime rule.

¶8 As to the petition’s timeliness, postconviction counsel argued:

“Mr. Carson’s filing is not considered untimely if he can show the delay was not

due to his culpable negligence.

On March 15th, 2022, the petitioner filed an affidavit which outlines the reasons

behind the delay. Therein being that petitioner is not a lawyer and was not educated in the

complexities of the law. And like in most areas of the law, Mr. Carson assumed that his

attorney had the duty to correct the constitutional violation outlined in Mr. Carson’s

petition. Upon learning otherwise, Mr. Carson filed his pro se petition immediately.

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Through Mr. Carson’s research, he believed that his sentence was void under the

one-act, one crime rule, and he believes that challenges to a void judgment can be raised at

any time.

As the Illinois Supreme Court found in People v. Boclair, the standard of culpable

negligence allows the court to determine the timeliness of the petition on an individual

basis. The Court found that the culpably negligent standard contemplates something greater

than ordinary negligence and is akin to recklessness.

In this case, Mr. Carson wasn’t being reckless, he merely was ignorant of the

process and this caused a delay in filing.”

¶9 As to the petition’s substantive claims, postconviction counsel acknowledged that the plea

offer did not derive from a Rule 402 conference, and therefore, Carson did not suffer a due process

violation from his absence. Postconviction counsel then argued that Carson made a substantial

showing of constitutional violations on the remaining two claims. Specifically, postconviction

counsel claimed Carson’s convictions violated the one-act, one-crime rule because they were based

on igniting a fire on the same victim. Counsel further contended that Carson’s guilty plea was not

knowing and intelligent because he was not informed of the State’s plea offer until the morning of

the hearing and was not given time to consider the offer.

¶ 10 At one point, the court inquired about Carson’s culpable negligence argument:

“THE COURT: And I don’t understand your argument of the fact that he’s not

educated on the complexities of the law.

So is it your position that anybody that’s—oh, I’m sorry, and that he expected his

lawyer to raise constitutional issues.

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Did he speak to his lawyer about issues he had after the plea?

[POSTCONVICTION COUNSEL]: After the plea, your Honor?

THE COURT: Well, yeah, that’s when he says he realized that his constitutional

rights were violated. That’s what you just told me.

[POSTCONVICTION COUNSEL]: Yes, when he realized that, that’s when he

filed his postconviction petition.

THE COURT: So, what, in 2015, it came to him?

[POSTCONVICTION COUNSEL]: Yes, your Honor.” 2

¶ 11 The circuit court granted the motion to dismiss and denied the postconviction petition on

October 24, 2022. In its written order, the court made no reference to the petition’s timeliness.

Instead, the court determined the petition failed to make a substantial showing of a constitutional

violation. The circuit court found that (1) Carson was not denied due process because no Rule 402

conference occurred, and his claim that he was not admonished under Rule 402(c) was contradicted

by the record, (2) it was “clear” from the indictment that the aggravated arson count was a separate

act from the attempted murder count, and (3) Carson’s ineffective assistance of counsel and

involuntary guilty plea claims failed where the underlying allegations lacked merit. This appeal

followed.

¶ 12 II. JURISDICTION

¶ 13 On October 24, 2022, the circuit court summarily dismissed Carson’s petition at the second

stage of postconviction proceedings. Carson filed a notice of appeal on the same day. Hence, we

2 This court relied on counsel’s misstatement when referencing the time period between the filing of petition for relief from judgment and the postconviction petition in its prior Order.

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have jurisdiction over this appeal pursuant to article VI, section 6 of the Illinois Constitution (Ill.

Const. 1970, art. VI, § 6) and Illinois Supreme Court Rule 651(a) (eff. July 1, 2017), which governs

appeals in postconviction proceedings.

¶ 14 III. ANALYSIS

¶ 15 On appeal, Carson argues that the circuit court erred in denying the postconviction petition

at the second stage proceeding for two reasons. First, postconviction counsel’s Rule 651(c)

certificate failed to raise a rebuttable presumption that counsel reviewed portions of the record

necessary to adequately present and support Carson’s argument for lack of culpable negligence in

filing an untimely petition. Second, the record rebuts a presumption of compliance where counsel

(1) raised a noncognizable argument to demonstrate lack of culpable negligence in Carson’s

affidavit, (2) failed to amend the petition to include the facts from the proceeding on the petition

for relief from judgment to support Carson’s lack of culpable negligence argument, and

(3) misstated when Carson discovered the one-act, one-crime issue during the hearing on the

State’s motion to dismiss. Alternatively, Carson argues that we should remand this case for further

proceedings pursuant to People v. Jackson, 2021 IL App (1st) 190263, given the insufficient record

showing postconviction counsel’s actions in obtaining any facts to support Carson’s lack of

culpable negligence claim.

¶ 16 The Act (725 ILCS 5/122-1 et seq. (West 2022)) provides a mechanism by which a

criminal defendant can assert that his conviction and sentence were the result of a substantial denial

of his rights under the United States Constitution, the Illinois Constitution, or both. People v.

English, 2013 IL 112890, ¶ 21. The Act provides a three-stage process for adjudicating

postconviction petitions. Id. ¶ 23. At the second stage, the State is allowed to file either a motion

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to dismiss or an answer to the petition, and the court determines whether the petitioner has made

a substantial showing of a constitutional violation. People v. Coleman, 183 Ill. 2d 366, 381 (1998).

If a postconviction petition is not filed within the limitations period, the Act requires the petitioner

to allege facts showing the delay was not due to his or her culpable negligence. 725 ILCS 5/122-

1(c) (West 2022). If the petitioner fails to allege lack of culpable negligence, the court must dismiss

the petition as untimely upon the State’s motion to dismiss. People v. Perkins, 229 Ill. 2d 34, 43

(2007) (citing 725 ILCS 5/122-1(c) (West 2006)).

¶ 17 Additionally, counsel may be appointed at the second stage if the petitioner is indigent. 725

ILCS 5/122-4 (West 2022); People v. Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d 458, 472 (2006). A petitioner has no

constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel in postconviction proceedings. People v.

Greer, 212 Ill. 2d 192, 204 (2004). Rather, a petitioner has a statutory right to reasonable assistance

of counsel. People v. Hardin, 217 Ill. 2d 289, 299 (2005). Statutory reasonable assistance is

something “less than that afforded by the federal or state constitutions.” Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d at

472.

¶ 18 To ensure that individuals receive reasonable assistance, Rule 651(c) requires that

postconviction counsel (1) consult with petitioner either by mail or in person to ascertain his

contentions of deprivation of constitutional rights, (2) examine the record of proceedings at the

trial, and (3) make any amendments to the petitioner’s petition that are necessary to adequately

present the petitioner’s contentions. Ill. S. Ct. R. 651(c) (eff. July 1, 2017). Postconviction counsel

establishes compliance with Rule 651(c) by filing a certificate representing that counsel fulfilled

these requirements. Perkins, 229 Ill. 2d at 50. The certificate creates a rebuttable presumption that

counsel provided the required representation during the second stage proceeding. Id. at 52. The

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petitioner bears the burden of overcoming this presumption by demonstrating “his attorney’s

failure to substantially comply with the duties mandated by Rule 651(c).” People v. Profit, 2012

IL App (1st) 101307, ¶ 19. We review de novo postconviction counsel’s compliance with Rule

651(c). People v. Jones, 2011 IL App (1st) 092529, ¶ 19.

¶ 19 In Perkins, our supreme court held that Rule 651(c) requires postconviction counsel to

amend an untimely pro se petition to allege any available facts necessary to establish that delay

was not due to the petitioner’s culpable negligence. Perkins, 229 Ill. 2d at 49. The Perkins court

provided directive in fulfilling that duty:

“In discharging this duty, counsel must inquire of the petitioner whether there is any excuse

for the delay in filing. As a practical matter, any potential excuse for the late filing will

often be discovered by speaking with the petitioner. Counsel must also allege any excuse

for the delay in filing apparent from the pleadings and the portions of the record counsel

must review to present petitioner’s claims. See People v. Davis, 156 Ill. 2d 149, 164 (1993)

(under Rule 651(c), counsel is required to review those portions of the record necessary to

present and support the claims by the petitioner in the pro se petition).” Id. at 49-50.

¶ 20 We cannot ascertain whether counsel discharged his duties under Rule 651(c) because the

record is insufficient as to counsel’s actions in obtaining any excuse for the delay in filing the

postconviction petition. Carson argues that postconviction counsel failed to amend the petition to

include facts from the proceedings on the petition for relief from judgment that support his lack of

culpable negligence claim. While postconviction counsel filed a Rule 651(c) certificate of

compliance, averring that he consulted with Carson and subsequently filed an affidavit detailing

excuses for delay, the record does not show whether counsel knew about the petition for relief

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from judgment and the reasons, if any, counsel may not have included the facts surrounding that

petition as an excuse. The State’s own contention shows the lack of record here. In its brief, the

State claims that “[l]ogic dictates” that “petitioner would have shared with his new counsel

anything which might have supported a lack of culpable negligence argument.” (Emphasis added.)

This assumption does not demonstrate the information counsel obtained in support of Carson’s

lack of culpable negligence claim.

¶ 21 This court remanded a postconviction case for further second stage proceedings due to an

insufficient record in Jackson, 2021 IL App (1st) 190263. In Jackson, the defendant argued his

postconviction counsel rendered unreasonable assistance by failing to include evidentiary support

for his petition. Id. ¶ 44. This court found that it could not determine whether counsel acted

unreasonably because the record was devoid of any information as to what counsel attempted to

obtain or the facts she found. Id. Instead of finding the defendant failed to prove counsel acted

unreasonably due to lack of a sufficient record, this court exercised its authority, pursuant to

Illinois Supreme Court Rule 615(b) (eff. Jan. 1, 1967), to remand the case for further second stage

proceedings so that counsel may amend and support the petition. Jackson, 2021 IL App (1st)

190263, ¶ 46.

¶ 22 The State argues remand is inappropriate because Carson was not prejudiced. Specifically,

the circuit court did not address timeliness and denied the petition based on Carson’s failure to

make a substantial showing of a constitutional violation. We find People v. Addison, 2023 IL

127119, applicable here, even if counsel’s “alleged ‘deficiency’ unquestionably did not factor into

the circuit court’s dismissal,” as the State contends. In Addison, our supreme court held that

prejudice is not required for petitioner to obtain remand for counsel’s noncompliance with Rule

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651(c). Id. ¶ 35. Quoting its prior decision in People v. Suarez, 224 Ill. 2d 37, 51-52 (2007), the

Addison court reiterated:

“ ‘Our Rule 651(c) analysis has been driven, not by whether a particular defendant’s claim

is potentially meritorious, but by the conviction that where postconviction counsel does not

adequately complete the duties mandated by the rule, the limited right to counsel conferred

by the Act cannot be fully realized. [Citations.] We have consistently declined the State’s

invitation to excuse noncompliance with the rule on the basis of harmless error. We refused

to address questions that are properly determined in the first instance by the circuit court.

The State presents no new persuasive arguments that would justify departing from our prior

case law. Accordingly, we decline to hold that noncompliance with Rule 651(c) may be

excused on the basis of harmless error.’ ” (Emphasis in original.) Addison, 2023 IL 127119,

¶ 33 (quoting Suarez, 224 Ill. 2d at 51-52).

Thus, remand is required to ensure petitioners are provided with reasonable assistance of counsel,

as provided by the Act, regardless of whether the defendant’s claims have merit. See Jackson,

2021 IL App (1st) 190263, ¶ 47 (“[r]emand is required whether or not defendant’s underlying

claim has merit” (citing Suarez, 224 Ill. 2d at 47)).

¶ 23 The State contends we should follow our supreme court’s more recent decision in People

v. Cotto, 2016 IL 119006. There, the petitioner filed a postconviction petition that advanced to the

second stage. Id. ¶¶ 9-11. The State filed a motion to dismiss, arguing, inter alia, that the petition

was untimely filed and postconviction counsel filed a response asserting the petitioner’s reason for

the untimeliness. Id. ¶¶ 12-13. The court granted the State’s motion to dismiss without reference

to timeliness. Id. ¶ 14. On appeal, the petitioner argued that postconviction counsel rendered

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unreasonable assistance because he failed to provide an adequate excuse for delay in filing. Id.

¶ 44. The supreme court held the petitioner failed to demonstrate that postconviction counsel

provided unreasonable assistance where the petitioner did not provide any additional information

that counsel should have included on the timeliness issue and state when counsel was retained in

relation to filing the petition. Id. ¶ 50. Our supreme court also noted the circuit court did not dismiss

the petition based on untimeliness. Id.

¶ 24 While the Cotto court mentioned the basis for the dismissal in its determination, its decision

does not suggest a deviation from Suarez and Addison, which held that a defendant need not show

prejudice on the issue of Rule 651(c) compliance. Rather, a careful reading of Cotto reveals the

court’s ultimate holding that the defendant failed to show counsel rendered unreasonable

performance. Here, conversely, we cannot determine whether counsel’s performance was

unreasonable, given the insufficient record. Therefore, we find the appropriate remedy is to remand

this case as in Jackson.

¶ 25 The State further claims the petition for relief from judgment would not change any

determination regarding culpable negligence because the petition was filed three years after the

deadline to file the postconviction petition had expired. Again, Carson need not show prejudice to

warrant remand. We also note that counsel is tasked with amending an untimely postconviction

petition to allege any available facts necessary to establish that delay was not due to the petitioner’s

culpable negligence. See Perkins, 229 Ill. 2d at 49. As Carson states, the petition could have

explained, at minimum, the delay from late 2012 to April 2014. For the foregoing reasons, we

exercise our authority under Rule 615(b) to remand the case for a new second stage proceeding.

On remand, postconviction counsel must consult with Carson and amend the petition to include

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any excuses for the delay in filing. We also direct counsel to state on the record the attempts made

to obtain any excuses supporting Carson’s lack of culpable negligence claim.

¶ 26 IV. CONCLUSION

¶ 27 We reverse the circuit court’s judgment and remand for a new second stage proceeding

with directions.

¶ 28 Reversed and remanded with directions.

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People v. Carson, 2024 IL App (1st) 221644

Decision Under Review: Appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, No. 04-CR- 06367; the Hon. Joseph M. Claps, Judge, presiding.

Attorneys James E. Chadd, Douglas R. Hoff, and Christofer R. Bendik, of for State Appellate Defender’s Office, of Chicago, for appellant. Appellant:

Attorneys Kimberly M. Foxx, State’s Attorney, of Chicago (Enrique for Abraham, Brian A. Levitsky, and Tasha-Marie Kelly, Assistant Appellee: State’s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People.

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