NOTICE: This order was filed under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 23 and is not precedent except in the limited circumstances allowed under Rule 23(e)(1).
2026 IL App (3d) 240609-U
Order filed March 19, 2026 ____________________________________________________________________________
IN THE
APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS
THIRD DISTRICT
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ) Appeal from the Circuit Court ILLINOIS, ) of the 18th Judicial Circuit, ) Du Page County, Illinois, Plaintiff-Appellee, ) ) Appeal No. 3-24-0609 v. ) Circuit No. 18-CF-2388 ) JOSHUA N. WILSON, ) Honorable ) Margaret O’Connell, Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge, Presiding. ____________________________________________________________________________
JUSTICE BERTANI delivered the judgment of the court. Justices Davenport and Anderson concurred in the judgment. ____________________________________________________________________________
ORDER
¶1 Held: The circuit court erred in dismissing defendant’s postconviction petition at the second stage of proceedings where defendant made a substantial showing of a constitutional violation. Defendant forfeited his claims of court error and unreasonable assistance of postconviction counsel.
¶2 Defendant, Joshua N. Wilson, appeals from the second-stage dismissal of his
postconviction petition. Defendant argues that the Du Page County circuit court erred in
dismissing his petition because he made a substantial showing of ineffective assistance of plea
counsel amounting to a constitutional violation, warranting a third-stage evidentiary hearing. Specifically, defendant asserts that plea counsel was ineffective for failing to (1) secure a 12-year
sentence and (2) perfect defendant’s appeal. Additionally, defendant argues that the court
improperly struck claims raised in his initial petition, and alternatively, postconviction counsel
provided unreasonable assistance for failing to amend the petition to properly incorporate
defendant’s pro se claims. We reverse in part, affirm in part, and remand.
¶3 I. BACKGROUND
¶4 On November 6, 2018, the State charged defendant with aggravated criminal sexual assault
(720 ILCS 5/11-1.30(a)(2), (d)(1) (West 2016)) and four counts of criminal sexual assault (id.
§ 11-1.20(a)(3)). On July 24, 2020, the State indicated that if defendant did not plead guilty on
August 5 it would revoke all offers on that date. Plea counsel stated that she had explained to
defendant that if he did not “accept the plea or blind plea on August 5th, [the State] will be revoking
their offer.” The court continued the matter to August 5, 2020, for defendant’s plea.
¶5 On August 5, 2020, the court held a conference pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule
402 (eff. July 1, 2012). After, plea counsel indicated that defendant was still considering both
sentencing agreements. The parties agreed that defendant would enter a guilty plea on that day,
and the options for sentencing remained “the blind plea where the floor is ten, the maximum is 14,
or an agreed plea of 12 solid.” Defendant pled guilty to one count of criminal sexual assault, and
the State dismissed the remaining counts. The court admonished defendant that the possible
sentencing range following the plea was a between 10 and 14 years’ imprisonment. The court
found that defendant entered a knowing and voluntary plea and continued the matter for
sentencing.
¶6 At the sentencing hearing on August 27, 2020, there was no discussion between the court,
the State, defense counsel, or defendant regarding the two potential sentencing agreements. During
2 argument, the State asked for 14 years’ imprisonment and plea counsel requested 10 years’
imprisonment, indicating this was the minimum “agreement.” Before imposing the sentence, the
court explained that, upon defendant’s guilty plea, it had “accepted a range of sentence and agreed
to that range.” The court sentenced defendant to 13 years’ imprisonment, three years to a lifetime
of mandatory supervised release (MSR), and lifetime sex offender registration. Defendant did not
file a postplea motion and did not appeal.
¶7 On August 26, 2022, defendant filed a pro se postconviction petition alleging, inter alia,
ineffective assistance of plea counsel for (1) failing to “secure” the State’s 12-year offer,
(2) misadvising defendant that he would receive a lesser term of MSR and sex offender
registration, and (3) failing to file a postplea motion and subsequent appeal following defendant’s
request. Defendant attached an affidavit from himself and his mother, Debra Radder. The court
summarily dismissed defendant’s petition and defendant appealed.
¶8 On appeal, the State confessed error, and we issued a minute order accepting the State’s
confession and remanding for second-stage proceedings. People v. Wilson, No. 3-22-0382 (2023)
(unpublished minute order). Specifically, we relied on People v. Edwards, 197 Ill. 2d 239, 242,
257-58 (2001), finding that defendant’s claim of ineffective assistance warranted the appointment
of counsel and second-stage proceedings based on defendant’s claim that after pleading guilty,
plea counsel refused to file an appeal.
¶9 On remand, appointed counsel filed an amended postconviction petition, adopting
defendant’s prior claims and stating that defendant did “not intend to abandon or withdraw his
previously filed *** Petition” and counsel “adopts and incorporates it into [the amended] ***
Petition for Post-Conviction Relief.” The amended petition alleged the ineffective assistance of
plea counsel for failing to (1) “relay all terms of an offer to [defendant], resulting in a ‘lost plea’ ”
3 and (2) “file a post-trial motion and notice of appeal for the [defendant].” In support, the motion
alleged that due to plea counsel’s advice, defendant believed that he had until August 27, 2020, to
accept the State’s 12-year fully negotiated offer or proceed by blind plea with an agreed sentencing
cap of 10 to 14 years’ imprisonment.
¶ 10 Defendant’s affidavit indicated that on August 27, 2020, defendant informed plea counsel
that he wanted to accept the 12-year offer and counsel responded that she would inform the State.
A short time later, plea counsel told defendant that “it was too late, the 12-year offer had been
revoked.” Following the sentencing hearing, plea counsel told defendant, “We will file an appeal,”
and she would contact defendant. The next day, defendant asked Radder to inform plea counsel
that he wished to appeal the sentence. Later, Radder told defendant that when she relayed his
message, plea counsel responded that “there was nothing to appeal.” Plea counsel did not
communicate with defendant to discuss posttrial motions or an appeal. Since his incarceration for
the present offense, defendant communicated with plea counsel through Radder. Radder’s affidavit
stated that she spoke to plea counsel many times and assisted in relaying messages. On August 27,
2020, plea counsel informed Radder defendant had decided to accept the 12-year offer, but the
State said it was “too late.” Approximately two days after the sentencing hearing, defendant told
Radder to notify plea counsel that he wanted to appeal the sentence. When Radder contacted plea
counsel, she responded that “there was nothing to appeal.” Postconviction counsel filed a
certificate pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 651(c) (eff. July 1, 2017).
¶ 11 On June 10, 2024, the State filed a motion to dismiss defendant’s postconviction petition.
Specifically, the State contended that two of defendant’s pro se claims were not properly
incorporated into postconviction counsel’s amended petition pursuant to Rule 651(c). The State
moved to strike defendant’s pro se claims that plea counsel (1) misadvised defendant of the
4 collateral consequences of his plea related to the term of MSR and lifetime sex offender
registration and (2) failed to file posttrial motions and appeal following defendant’s request and
“refused to file the paperwork and allege her own ineffectiveness.” Additionally, the State argued
defendant failed to establish a substantial constitutional claim of ineffective assistance of plea
counsel where the record rebutted the claims, as evidenced by defendant’s guilty plea and failure
to file a pro se notice of appeal.
¶ 12 On October 24, 2024, the matter proceeded to a hearing. At the outset, postconviction
counsel informed the court that most of defendant’s pro se claims had been incorporated into the
amended petition but counsel did not adopt defendant’s claim relating to MSR and lifetime sex
offender registration. The court granted the State’s motion to strike the two claims. The court
considered the remaining claims that plea counsel failed to (1) “relay all terms of an offer to
[defendant], resulting in a ‘lost plea’ ” and (2) “file a post-trial motion and notice of appeal for the
[defendant]” and granted the State’s motion to dismiss. Defendant appealed.
¶ 13 II. ANALYSIS
¶ 14 On appeal, defendant argues the court improperly dismissed his postconviction petition at
the second stage when he made a substantial showing of ineffective assistance of plea counsel.
Specifically, defendant asserts that counsel was ineffective for failing to (1) secure a 12-year
sentence and (2) perfect defendant’s appeal. Additionally, defendant argues that the court
improperly struck claims raised in his initial petition, and alternatively, postconviction counsel
provided unreasonable assistance for failing to amend the petition to properly incorporate
defendant’s pro se claims.
¶ 15 A. Dismissed Claims
5 ¶ 16 Under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Act), a defendant may assert that the proceeding
resulting in his conviction substantially denied his constitutional rights. 725 ILCS 5/122-1(a)(1)
(West 2022). The Act establishes three stages of review. People v. Domagala, 2013 IL 113688,
¶ 32. At the first stage, the circuit court may dismiss the petition if it is frivolous or patently without
merit. 725 ILCS 5/122-2.1(a)(2) (West 2022). If the circuit court does not dismiss the petition, it
advances to the second stage, at which the defendant must make a substantial showing of a
constitutional violation or be subject to a motion to dismiss. Domagala, 2013 IL 113688, ¶ 33; 725
ILCS 5/122-5 (West 2022). At this stage, all well-pled facts will be regarded as true unless
positively rebutted by the record. People v. Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d 458, 473 (2006). During the
second stage, the court “must determine whether the petition and any accompanying
documentation make a substantial showing of a constitutional violation.” (Internal quotation marks
omitted.) People v. Tate, 2012 IL 112214, ¶ 10. Substantial constitutional questions involving
“[f]actual disputes *** should be resolved at a hearing before the trial court.” People v. Kitchen,
189 Ill. 2d 424, 433 (1999). For example, when a defendant’s ineffective assistance claim alleges
matters which occurred dehors the record, a third-stage evidentiary hearing allows the opportunity
for defendant to testify to the contents of his affidavit and other evidence to be presented, for the
court to decide regarding the credibility of defendant’s claim. See People v. Nicholson, 2021 IL
App (3d) 180010, ¶¶ 8-9, 17, 22. We review the circuit court’s second-stage dismissal of a
postconviction petition de novo. People v. Sanders, 2016 IL 118123, ¶ 31.
¶ 17 The court dismissed defendant’s two claims of ineffective assistance of plea counsel for
failing to (1) secure a 12-year sentence and (2) perfect defendant’s appeal. Generally, to prevail
on a postconviction claim of ineffective assistance, a petition must make a substantial showing
that (1) counsel’s performance was so deficient that it fell below an objective standard of
6 reasonableness and (2) there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional
errors, the result of the proceeding would have been different. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.
668, 687, 694 (1984). To satisfy the first prong under Strickland, counsel’s performance must be
so inadequate “that counsel was not functioning as the ‘counsel’ guaranteed by the sixth
amendment.” People v. Evans, 186 Ill. 2d 83, 93 (1999). If a defendant can establish deficient
performance, the second prong requires defendant to show that he was prejudiced as a result.
People v. Dupree, 2018 IL 122307, ¶ 44. Failure to establish either prong will be fatal to
defendant’s claim. People v. Richardson, 189 Ill. 2d 401, 411 (2000).
¶ 18 1. Plea Negotiations
¶ 19 Defendant’s first claim of ineffective assistance is based on his allegation that plea counsel
failed to secure the State’s 12-year offer and, had counsel properly informed him, he would have
accepted the State’s offer. The sixth amendment requires that defense counsel consult with
defendant on all major decisions. People v. Smith, 268 Ill. App. 3d 574, 579 (1994). Thus, a
defendant’s right to the effective assistance of counsel extends to plea negotiations. People v. Hale,
2013 IL 113140, ¶¶ 15-16. For the purposes of a plea offer or plea negotiations, “[a] criminal
defendant has the constitutional right to be reasonably informed with respect to the direct
consequences of accepting or rejecting a plea offer.” (Emphasis and internal quotation marks
omitted.) Id. ¶ 16. In other words, counsel has a duty to aid defendant in making an informed
decision as to whether to plead guilty. People v. Mendez, 336 Ill. App. 3d 935, 939 (2003).
¶ 20 Here, defendant’s postconviction petition sufficiently demonstrated that plea counsel’s
performance was deficient for failing to communicate with defendant regarding the availability of
the State’s 12-year offer, which prevented defendant from making an informed decision as to when
to accept the State’s offer and resulted in the State revoking the offer. The record supports
7 defendant’s claim in that, during defendant’s guilty plea the court confirmed with both parties that
defendant still had two choices of sentencing open to him: a fully negotiated plea to 12 years’
imprisonment or a blind plea with a sentencing range of 10 to 14 years’ imprisonment. Then the
court continued the matter to the sentencing date, further supporting defendant’s belief that the
offer would be available for him to accept on that date.
¶ 21 Defendant must also demonstrate that he was prejudiced by counsel’s deficient
performance. Here, defendant contends that he unknowingly failed to accept the offer in time,
causing him to reject the plea offer, and instead, defendant had no choice but to proceed by way
of a blind plea. In cases involving rejected plea offers, defendant must show that (1) he would have
accepted the plea offer but for counsel’s deficient advice, (2) the plea would have been entered
without the State cancelling it, (3) the circuit court would have accepted the plea deal, and (4) the
result of the criminal process would have been more favorable by the plea. Nicholson, 2021 IL
App (3d) 180010, ¶ 19. A sentence resulting in even one additional year of imprisonment is
sufficient to establish prejudice. People v. Stout, 2022 IL App (3d) 200377-U, ¶¶ 8, 22 (a circuit
court’s error by refusing defendant’s guilty plea and proceeding to trial prejudiced defendant, when
the court ultimately sentenced defendant to five years’ imprisonment—one additional year than
defendant would have received pursuant to the plea agreement).
¶ 22 When considering the first factor, defendant’s affidavit averred that he would have
accepted the State’s 12-year offer but for counsel’s deficient advice that the offer would remain
available to him on his sentencing date. Regarding both the second and third factors, at the time of
defendant’s plea, the court’s discussion with the State and plea counsel confirming that the State’s
12-year offer remained available to defendant, shows that both the court and the State would have
entered and accepted the plea offer if defendant had pursued it. Finally, the result of the criminal
8 process would have been more favorable, where, following the sentencing hearing, the court
imposed 13 years’ imprisonment, one year more than defendant’s intended agreement. See id.
Therefore, defendant made a substantial showing of both deficient performance and prejudice, in
that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the
proceeding would have been different. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687-88.
¶ 23 Importantly, defendant’s allegation that he would have accepted the plea offer but for
counsel’s deficient performance is not positively rebutted by the record. Here, neither defendant
nor plea counsel made a clear or express intention to reject the State’s 12-year offer, and the record
does not show the State’s revocation of that offer. Moreover, defendant’s plea cannot rebut his
claims where the record shows that his sentencing options remained open at the time of his plea
and the record is absent any discussion prior to the commencement of the sentencing hearing. See
cf. People v. Torres, 228 Ill. 2d 382, 397 (2008) (the record rebutted defendant’s claim that counsel
made certain promises where defendant denied that any promises were made when the court
accepted his guilty plea). Though defendant proceeded to a sentencing hearing which contemplated
an agreed 10- to 14-year sentencing range, defendant’s sentencing hearing does not positively
rebut the claim since it does not address the off-the-record conversations defendant alleged to have
had with plea counsel. See Kitchen, 189 Ill. 2d at 433 (holding that “when a petitioner’s claims are
based upon matters outside the record, this court has emphasized that it is not the intent of the Act
that such claims be adjudicated on the pleadings” (internal quotation marks omitted)). As a result,
defendant’s claim presents a disputed fact in that counsel led defendant to believe the offer would
be available, which is best resolved through an evidentiary hearing where fact-finding and
credibility determinations are appropriate. See People v. English, 2013 IL 112890, ¶ 23.
Specifically, testimony could be rendered regarding the advice that plea counsel communicated to
9 defendant between his guilty plea and sentencing hearing regarding his sentencing options. Taking
defendant’s statements as true, defendant made a substantial showing of ineffective assistance
where he alleged that he would have accepted a fully negotiated plea of 12 years’ imprisonment
but for counsel’s deficient performance, warranting third-stage postconviction proceedings.
¶ 24 2. Perfecting an Appeal
¶ 25 Defendant’s second claim of ineffective assistance is based on his allegation that plea
counsel disregarded his request to file and perfect his appeal. “[A] guilty plea reduces the scope of
potentially appealable issues.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Torres, 228 Ill. 2d at 401.
However, following a guilty plea, counsel has a constitutional duty to consult with a defendant
regarding an appeal when “there is reason to think either (1) that a rational defendant would want
to appeal ***, or (2) that this particular defendant reasonably demonstrated to counsel that he was
interested in appealing.” Roe v. Flores-Ortega, 528 U.S. 470, 480 (2000); People v. Rogers, 372
Ill. App. 3d 859, 865-66 (2007). When the conviction arises from a guilty plea, plea counsel
maintains the duty to consult with defendant about the necessary steps that must be taken to appeal,
such as moving to withdraw the plea or to reconsider the sentence. Rogers, 372 Ill. App. 3d at 865-
66.
¶ 26 Under Strickland, an attorney who disregards a defendant’s specific instruction to file a
notice of appeal is professionally unreasonable, and the failure cannot be considered a strategic
decision. People v. Ross, 229 Ill. 2d 255, 262 (2008) (the filing of a notice of appeal is a ministerial
task, and trial counsel’s failure to file that notice is substandard). In other words, evidence that
counsel disregarded defendant’s request for an appeal, if proven at an evidentiary hearing,
establishes deficient performance under Strickland. See id. “Regarding prejudice, a defendant must
demonstrate that there is a reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s deficient representation,
10 the defendant would have appealed.” Id. When a defendant establishes that counsel had a
constitutional duty to consult with him about an appeal under Flores-Ortega, “prejudice may be
presumed when defense counsel’s ineffectiveness rendered appellate proceedings nonexistent,
essentially denying the defendant’s right to appeal.” Id.; see Flores-Ortega, 528 U.S. at 471 (the
“serious denial of the entire judicial proceeding *** demands a presumption of prejudice because
no presumption of reliability can be accorded to judicial proceedings that never took place”).
¶ 27 As to the first factor, defendant claims that counsel led defendant to believe that he could
accept the State’s 12-year offer on the date of his sentencing hearing. When the State revoked their
offer on the sentencing date, the court sentenced defendant to an additional year of imprisonment.
Thus, counsel knew that defendant intended to accept the State’s 12-year offer, and ultimately
received a longer prison sentence. See Torres, 228 Ill. 2d at 401-02. Given the imposition of a
lengthier sentence, plea counsel would have reason to believe defendant wished to appeal his
sentence. See id.; see also Flores-Ortega, 528 U.S. at 480. Second, defendant averred that after he
was sentenced, plea counsel informed defendant she would be in contact with him and they would
appeal. Defendant then explicitly notified plea counsel, through Radder, of his desire to appeal his
sentence within 30 days of its imposition. See Ross, 229 Ill. 2d at 262. According to defendant,
not only did plea counsel inform defendant they would appeal, counsel failed to consult with
defendant following his sentence regarding an appeal and failed to communicate with defendant
about the necessary steps that must be taken to appeal, such as moving to withdraw the plea or to
reconsider the sentence. See Rogers, 372 Ill. App. 3d at 865-66. Instead, plea counsel “refused.”
Simply stated, defendant explicitly communicated to counsel that he wanted to appeal his sentence,
and counsel failed to do so. See Ross, 229 Ill. 2d at 262.
11 ¶ 28 Here, defendant has established both factors under Flores-Ortega and alleged a
nonfrivolous claim of ineffective assistance pertaining to his plea. Thus, defendant has
demonstrated that but for plea counsel’s deficient performance in failing to appeal his sentence,
defendant would have timely appealed. See id.; see also Flores-Ortega, 528 U.S. at 483-84.
Defendant’s allegations address conversations with plea counsel which are not a part of the record.
Specifically, the claims relate to the communications between defendant and plea counsel
regarding the plea negotiations and postsentencing motions or an appeal. As such, defendant’s
claims are best resolved through an evidentiary hearing where fact-finding and credibility
determinations are appropriate. See English, 2013 IL 112890, ¶ 23. If defendant’s claims are
proven at an evidentiary hearing, he would be entitled to relief. See Ross, 229 Ill. 2d at 262-63;
Flores-Ortega, 528 U.S. at 483-84. Therefore, defendant’s second-stage petition, containing well-
pled allegations that must be taken as true, is legally sufficient and sets forth a substantial showing
of a constitutional violation based on ineffective assistance of plea counsel warranting third-stage
proceedings.
¶ 29 B. Struck Claims
¶ 30 Defendant argues that under Rule 651(c) the court erred by improperly striking defendant’s
pro se claims that plea counsel (1) misadvised defendant of the collateral consequences of his plea
related to the term of MSR and lifetime sex offender registration and (2) failed to file posttrial
motions and appeal following defendant’s request and refusing to “allege her own ineffectiveness.”
Alternatively, defendant contends that postconviction counsel provided an unreasonable level of
assistance by not properly adopting the claims in the amended petition.
¶ 31 Initially, defendant reasons that the court misapplied and misinterpreted Rule 651(c), when
it struck defendant’s pro se claims due to postconviction counsel’s failure to specifically list the
12 claims in the amended petition and instead stated that the pro se claims were “adopt[ed] and
incorporate[d]” into the petition. Defendant concludes that reversal is required due to the pro se
claims being struck. Generously construing defendant’s first argument, we understand his claim
to assert that the court erred by striking his pro se claims, resulting in a due process violation, in
that, the claims were not considered by the court. See People v. Stoecker, 2020 IL 124807, ¶ 17 (a
defendant has a right to due process in postconviction proceedings, in that he is entitled to “the
opportunity to be heard at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner” (internal quotation
marks omitted)). Even assuming, arguendo, that the court erred in its interpretation of Rule 651(c),
resulting in the stricken claims, defendant must also show that the error was not harmless. See id.
¶ 23; People v. Smith, 2022 IL 126940, ¶¶ 13-15.
¶ 32 Here, defendant failed to sufficiently present his claims of error in the context of a harmless
error analysis. Specifically, defendant does not argue that either of the stricken pro se claims were
meritorious, and thus, overcome harmless error review. We decline to find either claim possessed
merit, in the absence of defendant’s merit-based argument. See People v. Edwards, 2012 IL App
(1st) 091651, ¶ 29 (“A reviewing court is entitled to have issues clearly defined with *** cohesive
arguments presented; this court is not a repository into which an appellant may foist the burden of
argument and research ***.”).
¶ 33 Second, defendant asserts that postconviction counsel performed unreasonably for failing
to properly amend the pro se petition to include the two stricken claims. At the second stage,
among other requirements, Rule 651(c) requires postconviction counsel to “ma[k]e any
amendments to the petitions filed pro se that are necessary for an adequate presentation of
petitioner’s contentions.” Ill. S. Ct. R. 651(c) (eff. July 1, 2017). However, “Rule 651(c) does not
require postconviction counsel to advance frivolous or spurious claims on defendant’s behalf.”
13 People v. Greer, 212 Ill. 2d 192, 205 (2004). When postconviction counsel files a Rule 651(c)
certificate, there is a rebuttable presumption that counsel provided reasonable assistance in
compliance with the rule. See People v. Profit, 2012 IL App (1st) 101307, ¶ 19. If counsel found
all the claims in the petition to be frivolous, then counsel may either stand on the pro se petition
or seek to withdraw as counsel. People v. Malone, 2017 IL App (3d) 140165, ¶ 10. If counsel
found some claims in the petition to be frivolous, then counsel would omit those claims from the
petition. People v. Dixon, 2018 IL App (3d) 150630, ¶ 22.
¶ 34 Here, the presumption exists that postconviction counsel reviewed defendant’s pro se
claims and substantially complied with Rule 651(c) by advancing claims of merit or shaping
defendant’s pro se claims into proper legal arguments. See Profit, 2012 IL App (1st) 101307, ¶ 19.
Notably, the record illustrates that postconviction counsel incorporated defendant’s claim of
ineffective assistance of plea counsel for failing to pursue defendant’s appeal into the amended
petition. In other words, counsel properly shaped defendant’s pro se claim that plea counsel
refused to file an appeal and allege her own ineffectiveness into a proper legal argument, which
the court ultimately considered. The presumption also exists that postconviction counsel found the
pro se MSR and sex offender registration claim to be frivolous, as it was omitted from the amended
petition. See id.; see also Dixon, 2018 IL App (3d) 150630, ¶ 22. The record supports this
conclusion, where postconviction counsel explained to the court that he specifically did not adopt
the claim in the amended petition. As previously stated, defendant does not present any argument
regarding the merits of the claim. Supra ¶ 32. Presuming the claim lacked merit, “[r]eversal and
remand would serve no purpose and would merely delay the dismissal of the meritless” claims.
Stoecker, 2020 IL 124807, ¶ 33. In the absence of any merit-based argument, defendant cannot
overcome the presumption that postconviction counsel provided reasonable assistance by properly
14 omitting a frivolous claim. See Edwards, 2012 IL App (1st) 091651, ¶ 29. Because defendant
failed to make sufficient arguments regarding his stricken claims, his claims are forfeited. See Ill.
S. Ct. R. 341(h)(7) (eff. Oct. 1, 2020).
¶ 35 III. CONCLUSION
¶ 36 The judgment of the circuit court of Du Page County is reversed in part, affirmed in part,
and remanded.
¶ 37 Reversed in part, affirmed in part, and remanded.