People v. Somers

• Decision Date: 22 February 2013
• Docket Number: No. 114054.,114054.
• Citation: 2013 IL 114054,984 N.E.2d 471,368 Ill.Dec. 525
• Parties: The PEOPLE of the State of Illinois, Appellee, v. Michael SOMERS, Appellant.
• Court: Illinois Supreme Court

2013 IL 114054

984 N.E.2d 471

368 Ill.Dec. 525

The PEOPLE of the State of Illinois, Appellee,

v.Michael SOMERS, Appellant.

No. 114054.

Supreme Court of Illinois.

Feb. 22, 2013.

Michael J. Pelletier, State Appellate Defender, Karen Munoz, Deputy Defender, Allen H. Andrews, Asst. Appellate Defender, Springfield, IL, for appellant.

Lisa Madigan, Atty. Gen., Springfield, IL, Thomas J. Brown, State's Atty., Pontiac, IL, Michael A. Scodro, Sol. Gen., Michael M. Glick, Joshua M. Schneider, Asst. Attys. Gen., Chicago, IL, for the People.

OPINION

Justice THOMAS delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion.

[368 Ill.Dec. 526]¶ 1 At issue is whether the appellate court properly remanded the cause for a hearing on the defendant's ability to pay a public defender fee when more than 90 days had passed since the entry of the final order at the trial court level. On the facts before us, we hold that the cause was properly remanded for a new hearing.

¶ 2 BACKGROUND

¶ 3 The State charged defendant, Michael Somers, with five counts of burglary (720 ILCS 5/19–1(a) (West 2008)). Defendant entered into a fully negotiated plea agreement with the State, whereby he would plead guilty in exchange for a sentence of two years' probation and 180 days in jail. The circuit court of Livingston County imposed that sentence and also ordered defendant to pay a $200 fee to reimburse the county for the expense of appointed counsel.

¶ 4 Before ordering defendant to pay the public defender fee, the trial court asked whether defendant thought that he could get a job when he was released from jail, and defendant responded, “I'm hoping so.” The court then asked defendant if he would use that to pay his fines and costs, and defendant replied, “Yes, ma'am.” Finally, the court asked defendant if there was any physical reason why he could not work, and defendant said, “no.” After hearing the defendant's answers, the court concluded that a $200 public defender fee would be appropriate.

¶ 5 The State later filed three petitions to revoke defendant's probation, and defendant admitted all three violations. On July 1, 2010, the trial court sentenced defendant to six years' imprisonment, and the court's sentencing order stated that “all financial obligations previously imposed remain in full force and effect.” Defendant filed a motion to reconsider his sentence, and the court denied the motion on September 30, 2010.

¶ 6 Defendant appealed, arguing that the court had not complied with section 113–3.1(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (725 ILCS 5/113–3.1(a) (West 2010)) when it imposed the public defender fee. Defendant asked the court to remand the matter for a proper hearing. The appellate court agreed with defendant that merely asking a defendant about his employment status before imposing the fee does not satisfy section 113–3.1(a)'s requirements. Thus, the court remanded the matter for a proper hearing. No. 4–10–0869 (summary order under Supreme Court Rule 23). Defendant then filed a petition for rehearing, discussing this court's recent decision in People v. Gutierrez, 2012 IL 111590, 356 Ill.Dec. 752, 962 N.E.2d 437, and arguing that the cause should not have been remanded for a new hearing because more than 90 days had passed since the trial court's final judgment. The appellate court denied the petition for rehearing.

¶ 7 We allowed defendant's petition for leave to appeal. Ill. S.Ct. R. 315 (eff. Feb. 26, 2010).

¶ 8 ANALYSIS

¶ 9 Defendant raises a single issue for our review. Defendant contends that when more than 90 days have elapsed since the entry of the trial court's final judgment, the appellate court is without authority to remand for a hearing on a defendant's ability to pay a public defender fee. According to defendant, the 90–day time limit provided by section 113–3.1(a) is mandatory rather than directory.

¶ 10 Normally, this argument would be considered forfeited because a remand to the trial court was the specific relief defendant requested in the appellate court, and he raised the timing argument for the first time in his petition for rehearing. However, the State explains that it is forgoing its right to argue forfeiture because this is a recurring issue and the public interest favors this court reaching the merits.

¶ 11 Section 113–3.1(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides as follows:

“Whenever under either Section 113–3 of this Code or Rule 607 of the Illinois Supreme Court the court appoints counsel to represent a defendant, the court may order the defendant to pay to the Clerk of the Circuit Court a reasonable sum to reimburse either the county or the State for such representation. In a hearing to determine the amount of the payment, the court shall consider the affidavit prepared by the defendant under Section 113–3 of this Code and any other information pertaining to the defendant's financial circumstances which may be submitted by the parties. Such hearing shall be conducted on the court's own motion or on motion of the State's Attorney at any time after the appointment of counsel but no later than 90 days after the entry of a final order disposing of the case at the trial level.” 725 ILCS 5/113–3.1(a) (West 2010).

¶ 12 Defendant argues that, because the appellate court filed its decision more than 90 days after the trial court's final judgment, the cause could not be remanded for a hearing on defendant's ability to pay the fee. Defendant contends that, pursuant to the rules set forth in People v. Robinson, 217 Ill.2d 43, 298 Ill.Dec. 37, 838 N.E.2d 930 (2005), the 90–day time limit in section 113–3.1(a) is mandatory rather than directory. Thus, according to defendant, once that time limit has passed, no hearing may be held and the fee must be vacated.

¶ 13 The State contends, however, that, in this particular case, the timing issue is a red herring. According to the State, the problem in this case is not that no hearing was held within the statutory time limit, but that the hearing that the court did hold was insufficient to satisfy section 113–3.1(a)'s requirements. The State concedes that the statute requires more than that the trial court simply ask the defendant a few questions about his employment status. However, because the trial court complied with the statute's time limit, the State contends that we should simply remand the cause for a proper hearing and that we do not need to reach the issue of whether that time limit is mandatory or directory. We agree with the State.

¶ 14 First, it is clear, as the State concedes, that the trial court's few questions to defendant about his employment status were insufficient to satisfy the statute. See People v. Roberson, 335 Ill.App.3d 798, 804, 269 Ill.Dec. 420, 780 N.E.2d 1144 (2002) (trial court's two questionsabout defendant's employment status insufficient to satisfy section 113–3.1(a)). Both this court and the appellate court have been very clear about what a trial court must do to satisfy section 113–3.1(a). To comply with the statute, the court may not simply impose the fee in a perfunctory manner. Id. Rather, the court must give the defendant notice that it is considering imposing the fee, and the defendant must be given the opportunity to present evidence regarding his or her ability to pay and any other relevant circumstances. Id. at 803–04, 269 Ill.Dec. 420, 780 N.E.2d 1144. The hearing must focus on the costs of representation, the defendant's financial circumstances, and the foreseeable ability of the defendant to pay. People v. Love, 177 Ill.2d 550, 563, 227 Ill.Dec. 109, 687 N.E.2d 32 (1997). The trial court must consider, among other evidence, the defendant's financial affidavit. 725 ILCS 5/113–3.1(a) (West 2010); People v. Hanna, 296 Ill.App.3d 116, 124, 230 Ill.Dec. 341, 693 N.E.2d 470 (1998).

¶ 15 Clearly, then, the trial court did not fully comply with the statute, and defendant is entitled to a new hearing. Just as clearly, though, the trial court did have some sort of a hearing within the statutory time period. The trial court inquired of defendant whether he thought he could get a job when he was released from jail, whether he planned on using his future income to pay his fines and costs, and whether there was any physical reason why he could not work. Only after hearing defendant's answers to these questions did the court impose the fee. Thus, we agree with the State's contention that the problem here is not that the trial court did not hold a hearing within 90 days, but that the hearing that the court did hold was insufficient to comply with the statute.

¶ 16 At oral argument both in this case and in Gutierrez, Justice Garman asked the defendant whether a remand would be permissible in a case in which the...