NOTICE 2025 IL App (5th) 220622-U NOTICE Decision filed 07/23/25. The This order was filed under text of this decision may be NO. 5-22-0622 Supreme Court Rule 23 and is changed or corrected prior to the filing of a Petition for not precedent except in the
Rehearing or the disposition of IN THE limited circumstances allowed the same. under Rule 23(e)(1). APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
FIFTH DISTRICT ______________________________________________________________________________
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the ) Circuit Court of Plaintiff-Appellee, ) Alexander County. ) v. ) No. 15-CF-43 ) LAVAR PIERCE, ) Honorable ) Timothy D. Denny, Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, presiding. ______________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE BARBERIS delivered the judgment of the court. Justices Cates and Vaughan concurred in the judgment.
ORDER
¶1 Held: We reverse the circuit court’s denial of defendant’s postconviction petition at the second stage of the proceedings and remand for further second-stage proceedings and for the appointment of new counsel.
¶2 Defendant, Lavar Pierce, appeals the Alexander County circuit court’s denial of his
amended postconviction petition at the second stage of the proceedings. On appeal, defendant
argues that postconviction counsel failed to comply with Illinois Supreme Court Rule 651(c) (eff.
July 1, 2017) and provided unreasonable assistance by failing to attach necessary affidavits or
evidentiary support and shape defendant’s claims in the amended petition. For the following
reasons, we reverse the denial and remand for further proceedings and appointment of new counsel.
1 ¶3 I. Background
¶4 On October 13, 2016, following a jury trial, defendant was convicted of home invasion and
aggravated battery causing bodily harm. The trial court sentenced defendant to 29 years’
imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of mandatory supervised release. This court affirmed
defendant’s conviction and sentence. People v. Pierce, 2020 IL App (5th) 170111-U.
¶5 On June 24, 2021, defendant filed a pro se petition for relief pursuant to the Post-
Conviction Hearing Act (Act) (725 ILCS 5/122-1 et seq. (West 2020)). Defendant argued in the
petition that he was denied effective assistance of both trial and appellate counsel, that judicial
bias contributed to his conviction, and that he was denied a fair trial due to a false statement made
by a former police officer to get on the jury. The circuit court advanced defendant’s petition to the
second stage and appointed counsel to represent him.
¶6 On February 9, 2022, defendant’s appointed postconviction counsel filed an amended
postconviction petition. Postconviction counsel adopted all defendant’s pro se claims and added
an additional allegation of ineffective assistance of counsel. The State filed a response to the
amended petition on February 25, 2022.
¶7 On September 2, 2022, following a hearing, the circuit court entered an order denying
defendant’s amended postconviction petition. In doing so, the court found that defendant failed to
prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that a constitutional right was violated.
¶8 Defendant appealed, arguing that postconviction counsel failed to file a certificate of
compliance with Illinois Supreme Court Rule 651(c) (eff. July 1, 2017) and that the record failed
to show that counsel substantially complied with the rule. People v. Pierce, No. 5-22-0622 (2023)
(unpublished summary order under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 23(c)). The State filed a motion
to supplement the record with postconviction counsel’s Rule 651(c) certificate, and this court
2 denied the State’s request. Id. This court also vacated the circuit court’s order denying defendant’s
amended postconviction petition and remanded the cause for new second-stage proceedings. Id.
Our supreme court subsequently denied the State’s petition for leave to appeal but entered a
supervisory order directing this court to vacate its judgment and allow the State to supplement the
record with postconviction counsel’s Rule 651(c) certificate. People v. Pierce, No. 130152 (Ill.
Feb. 28, 2024) (supervisory order).
¶9 II. Analysis
¶ 10 Defendant argues that postconviction counsel failed to comply with Rule 651(c) and
provide reasonable assistance by filing an amended postconviction petition but failing to attach
necessary affidavits or evidentiary support and failing to properly shape the claims. We agree.
¶ 11 “Most postconviction petitions are drafted by pro se defendants, and accordingly, the
threshold for a petition to survive the first stage of review is low.” People v. Allen, 2015 IL 113135,
¶ 24 (citing People v. Hodges, 234 Ill. 2d 1, 9 (2009)). Where, as here, a postconviction petition
advances to the second stage of postconviction proceedings, the Act provides that counsel may be
appointed to assist the defendant. People v. Wallace, 2018 IL App (5th) 140385, ¶ 27. At the
second stage, “the defendant bears the burden of making a substantial showing of a constitutional
violation.” Allen, 2015 IL 113135, ¶ 21. Appointed counsel may file an amended petition on the
defendant’s behalf, and the State may file a motion to dismiss or an answer to the petition. 725
ILCS 5/122-5 (West 2022). If the defendant makes a substantial showing of a constitutional
violation, the circuit court will advance the petition to the third stage of the proceedings for an
evidentiary hearing on the claims. Wallace, 2018 IL App (5th) 140385, ¶ 27.
¶ 12 Because the source of a defendant’s right to counsel at the second stage of postconviction
proceedings is statutory rather than constitutional, “the level of assistance guaranteed is not the
3 same as the level of assistance constitutionally mandated at trial or on direct appeal.” Id. ¶ 29. “Our
supreme court has held that the level of assistance guaranteed by the Post-Conviction Hearing Act
is reasonable assistance.” Id.
¶ 13 “To provide the reasonable level of assistance guaranteed by statute, postconviction
counsel must perform the three duties set forth in Illinois Supreme Court Rule 651(c) (eff. Feb. 6,
2013).” Wallace, 2018 IL App (5th) 140385, ¶ 30. “Specifically, counsel must (1) consult with the
defendant to determine the claims the defendant wants to raise, (2) examine the trial court record,
and (3) make any amendments to the petition that are necessary in order to adequately present the
defendant’s claims to the court.” Id. (citing People v. Greer, 212 Ill. 2d 192, 205 (2004)). “This
does not mean postconviction counsel must file an amended petition in every case. Rather, counsel
must make only those amendments that are necessary to adequately present the defendant’s
claims.” (Emphasis in original.) Id. (citing People v. Turner, 187 Ill. 2d 406, 412 (1999)). “Thus,
counsel might choose to stand on the defendant’s pro se petition if it adequately sets forth the
defendant’s claims.” Id. “Also, as our supreme court has held, it is not ‘necessary’ to amend the
defendant’s petition to advance claims that lack merit, and counsel is under no obligation to do
so.” Id. (citing Greer, 212 Ill. 2d at 205). “However, *** Rule 651(c) ‘plainly requires’ that
postconviction counsel make any amendments that are necessary.” Id. (citing Turner, 187 Ill. 2d
at 412).
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NOTICE 2025 IL App (5th) 220622-U NOTICE Decision filed 07/23/25. The This order was filed under text of this decision may be NO. 5-22-0622 Supreme Court Rule 23 and is changed or corrected prior to the filing of a Petition for not precedent except in the
Rehearing or the disposition of IN THE limited circumstances allowed the same. under Rule 23(e)(1). APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
FIFTH DISTRICT ______________________________________________________________________________
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the ) Circuit Court of Plaintiff-Appellee, ) Alexander County. ) v. ) No. 15-CF-43 ) LAVAR PIERCE, ) Honorable ) Timothy D. Denny, Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, presiding. ______________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE BARBERIS delivered the judgment of the court. Justices Cates and Vaughan concurred in the judgment.
ORDER
¶1 Held: We reverse the circuit court’s denial of defendant’s postconviction petition at the second stage of the proceedings and remand for further second-stage proceedings and for the appointment of new counsel.
¶2 Defendant, Lavar Pierce, appeals the Alexander County circuit court’s denial of his
amended postconviction petition at the second stage of the proceedings. On appeal, defendant
argues that postconviction counsel failed to comply with Illinois Supreme Court Rule 651(c) (eff.
July 1, 2017) and provided unreasonable assistance by failing to attach necessary affidavits or
evidentiary support and shape defendant’s claims in the amended petition. For the following
reasons, we reverse the denial and remand for further proceedings and appointment of new counsel.
1 ¶3 I. Background
¶4 On October 13, 2016, following a jury trial, defendant was convicted of home invasion and
aggravated battery causing bodily harm. The trial court sentenced defendant to 29 years’
imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of mandatory supervised release. This court affirmed
defendant’s conviction and sentence. People v. Pierce, 2020 IL App (5th) 170111-U.
¶5 On June 24, 2021, defendant filed a pro se petition for relief pursuant to the Post-
Conviction Hearing Act (Act) (725 ILCS 5/122-1 et seq. (West 2020)). Defendant argued in the
petition that he was denied effective assistance of both trial and appellate counsel, that judicial
bias contributed to his conviction, and that he was denied a fair trial due to a false statement made
by a former police officer to get on the jury. The circuit court advanced defendant’s petition to the
second stage and appointed counsel to represent him.
¶6 On February 9, 2022, defendant’s appointed postconviction counsel filed an amended
postconviction petition. Postconviction counsel adopted all defendant’s pro se claims and added
an additional allegation of ineffective assistance of counsel. The State filed a response to the
amended petition on February 25, 2022.
¶7 On September 2, 2022, following a hearing, the circuit court entered an order denying
defendant’s amended postconviction petition. In doing so, the court found that defendant failed to
prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, that a constitutional right was violated.
¶8 Defendant appealed, arguing that postconviction counsel failed to file a certificate of
compliance with Illinois Supreme Court Rule 651(c) (eff. July 1, 2017) and that the record failed
to show that counsel substantially complied with the rule. People v. Pierce, No. 5-22-0622 (2023)
(unpublished summary order under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 23(c)). The State filed a motion
to supplement the record with postconviction counsel’s Rule 651(c) certificate, and this court
2 denied the State’s request. Id. This court also vacated the circuit court’s order denying defendant’s
amended postconviction petition and remanded the cause for new second-stage proceedings. Id.
Our supreme court subsequently denied the State’s petition for leave to appeal but entered a
supervisory order directing this court to vacate its judgment and allow the State to supplement the
record with postconviction counsel’s Rule 651(c) certificate. People v. Pierce, No. 130152 (Ill.
Feb. 28, 2024) (supervisory order).
¶9 II. Analysis
¶ 10 Defendant argues that postconviction counsel failed to comply with Rule 651(c) and
provide reasonable assistance by filing an amended postconviction petition but failing to attach
necessary affidavits or evidentiary support and failing to properly shape the claims. We agree.
¶ 11 “Most postconviction petitions are drafted by pro se defendants, and accordingly, the
threshold for a petition to survive the first stage of review is low.” People v. Allen, 2015 IL 113135,
¶ 24 (citing People v. Hodges, 234 Ill. 2d 1, 9 (2009)). Where, as here, a postconviction petition
advances to the second stage of postconviction proceedings, the Act provides that counsel may be
appointed to assist the defendant. People v. Wallace, 2018 IL App (5th) 140385, ¶ 27. At the
second stage, “the defendant bears the burden of making a substantial showing of a constitutional
violation.” Allen, 2015 IL 113135, ¶ 21. Appointed counsel may file an amended petition on the
defendant’s behalf, and the State may file a motion to dismiss or an answer to the petition. 725
ILCS 5/122-5 (West 2022). If the defendant makes a substantial showing of a constitutional
violation, the circuit court will advance the petition to the third stage of the proceedings for an
evidentiary hearing on the claims. Wallace, 2018 IL App (5th) 140385, ¶ 27.
¶ 12 Because the source of a defendant’s right to counsel at the second stage of postconviction
proceedings is statutory rather than constitutional, “the level of assistance guaranteed is not the
3 same as the level of assistance constitutionally mandated at trial or on direct appeal.” Id. ¶ 29. “Our
supreme court has held that the level of assistance guaranteed by the Post-Conviction Hearing Act
is reasonable assistance.” Id.
¶ 13 “To provide the reasonable level of assistance guaranteed by statute, postconviction
counsel must perform the three duties set forth in Illinois Supreme Court Rule 651(c) (eff. Feb. 6,
2013).” Wallace, 2018 IL App (5th) 140385, ¶ 30. “Specifically, counsel must (1) consult with the
defendant to determine the claims the defendant wants to raise, (2) examine the trial court record,
and (3) make any amendments to the petition that are necessary in order to adequately present the
defendant’s claims to the court.” Id. (citing People v. Greer, 212 Ill. 2d 192, 205 (2004)). “This
does not mean postconviction counsel must file an amended petition in every case. Rather, counsel
must make only those amendments that are necessary to adequately present the defendant’s
claims.” (Emphasis in original.) Id. (citing People v. Turner, 187 Ill. 2d 406, 412 (1999)). “Thus,
counsel might choose to stand on the defendant’s pro se petition if it adequately sets forth the
defendant’s claims.” Id. “Also, as our supreme court has held, it is not ‘necessary’ to amend the
defendant’s petition to advance claims that lack merit, and counsel is under no obligation to do
so.” Id. (citing Greer, 212 Ill. 2d at 205). “However, *** Rule 651(c) ‘plainly requires’ that
postconviction counsel make any amendments that are necessary.” Id. (citing Turner, 187 Ill. 2d
at 412).
¶ 14 A certificate of compliance with Rule 651(c) “creates a rebuttable presumption that
postconviction counsel has provided the reasonable assistance contemplated by the Act.” People
v. Rivera, 2016 IL App (1st) 132573, ¶ 36. “A defendant has the burden of overcoming that
presumption by demonstrating that counsel failed to substantially comply with the duties set out
in Rule 651(c).” Id. “The presumption that the defendant received the required representation may
4 be rebutted by the record.” Id. “We review de novo the question of whether counsel provided the
reasonable level of assistance required.” Wallace, 2018 IL App (5th) 140385, ¶ 31.
¶ 15 Here, the record rebuts the presumption that postconviction counsel fulfilled his duties
under Rule 651(c). Specifically, the record demonstrates that counsel failed to attach affidavits or
supporting documents or explain why such documents were not attached. See 725 ILCS 5/122-2
(West 2022) (the Act requires that postconviction petitions “have attached thereto affidavits,
records, or other evidence supporting its allegations or shall state why the same are not attached”).
Defendant attached to his pro se petition a notarized affidavit affirming that the allegations in his
pro se petition were true, along with highlighted copies of relevant trial transcripts. Defendant also
attached an amended motion for order of fees filed in prior cases, which included a copy of an
attorney’s itemized invoice. Although postconviction counsel’s amended postconviction petition
realleged all the claims raised in defendant’s pro se petition and added a new claim of ineffective
assistance of counsel, postconviction counsel did not attach an affidavit signed by defendant or
any supporting documentation. In addition, postconviction counsel included the claim that trial
counsel failed to call “the actual alibi witnesses defendant named” but did not attach an affidavit
in support of this claim. Postconviction counsel also failed to explain why such documents were
not attached to the postconviction petition. Moreover, postconviction counsel failed to identify by
name the “alibi witnesses” who defendant claimed supported his defense.
¶ 16 In sum, the record rebuts the presumption that postconviction counsel complied with Rule
651(c) where counsel failed to allege specific facts and attach affidavits or other documents in
support of defendant’s claims. Postconviction counsel’s failures caused defendant’s claims to fail
at the second stage of the proceedings. See, e.g., People v. Dixon, 2018 IL App (3d) 150630, ¶¶ 5-
27 (postconviction petition was “not in an appropriate legal form to present the defendant’s claims
5 to the [circuit] court” and rebutted the presumption of compliance with Rule 651(c) where
postconviction counsel failed to allege specific facts, support those facts with documentation such
as affidavits, or allege prejudice when bringing claim of ineffective assistance of counsel).
Therefore, we conclude that defendant rebutted the presumption of reasonable assistance that arose
from postconviction counsel’s filing of a certificate of compliance with Rule 651(c).
¶ 17 III. Conclusion
¶ 18 For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the order of the circuit court of Alexander County
that denied the amended petition, and we remand for further second-stage proceedings with new
counsel.
¶ 19 Reversed and remanded with directions.