{ "id": 4060496, "name": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Appellee, v. DONALD A. LANDER, Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "People v. Lander", "decision_date": "2005-06-03", "docket_number": "No. 98433", "first_page": "577", "last_page": "591", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "215 Ill. 2d 577" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill.", "id": 8772, "name": "Illinois Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "195 Ill. 2d 291", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 725379 ], "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "309" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/195/0291-01" ] }, { "cite": "214 Ill. 2d 60", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 8450556 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "74" }, { "page": "73" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/214/0060-01" ] }, { "cite": "12 Ill. 2d 547", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2779434 ], "year": 1958, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "555" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/12/0547-01" ] }, { "cite": "472 U.S. 115", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 1512392 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "130" }, { "page": "93" }, { "page": "2529" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/472/0115-01" ] }, { "cite": "206 Ill. 2d 403", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1578305 ], "weight": 7, "year": 2003, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "417-18" }, { "page": "418" }, { "page": "421" }, { "page": "421" }, { "page": "421" }, { "page": "417-18" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/206/0403-01" ] }, { "cite": "191 Ill. 2d 168", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 229709 ], "year": 2000, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "174" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/191/0168-01" ] }, { "cite": "202 Ill. 2d 89", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1442050 ], "weight": 7, "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "101" }, { "page": "101-02" }, { "page": "106-08" }, { "page": "106" }, { "page": "108" }, { "page": "104" }, { "page": "104-05" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/202/0089-01" ] }, { "cite": "206 Ill. 2d 104", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1578251 ], "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "137" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/206/0104-01" ] }, { "cite": "139 Ill. 2d 351", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5574172 ], "year": 1990, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "364" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/139/0351-01" ] }, { "cite": "186 Ill. 2d 55", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 243864 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1999, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "60" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/186/0055-01" ] }, { "cite": "187 Ill. 2d 406", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1131043 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1999, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "410" }, { "page": "410" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/187/0406-01" ] }, { "cite": "183 Ill. 2d 366", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 209962 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1998, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "388-89" }, { "page": "388-89" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/183/0366-01" ] }, { "cite": "201 Ill. 2d 134", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1477003 ], "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "157" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/201/0134-01" ] }, { "cite": "202 Ill. 2d 89", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 1442050 ], "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "101-02" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/202/0089-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 770, "char_count": 23234, "ocr_confidence": 0.808, "pagerank": { "raw": 2.4398707903913705e-07, "percentile": 0.802936773533901 }, "sha256": "b0dd74b06abfa52ab2ff5b57ede74b5ac25ca131303101c8ef6ab7c57d928e3d", "simhash": "1:bba6de9df0cbf83e", "word_count": 3708 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T16:33:32.210900+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Appellee, v. DONALD A. LANDER, Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE KILBRIDE\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nIn this appeal, we consider whether: (1) defendant Donald A. Lander\u2019s court-appointed attorneys were required to comply with Supreme Court Rule 651(c) (134 Ill. 2d R. 651(c)), when his pro se postconviction petition was not timely filed; and (2) the allegations in defendant\u2019s pleadings were sufficient to establish the delay in filing was not due to his culpable negligence. We hold that defendant\u2019s attorneys were required to comply with Rule 651(c) in these circumstances, and defendant failed to establish he was not culpably negligent in the late filing. Accordingly, we reverse the judgments below and remand to the circuit court for further postconviction proceedings.\nI. BACKGROUND\nDefendant Donald A. Lander was convicted of aggravated battery of a child (720 ILCS 5/12 \u2014 4.3(a) (West 1994)) and sentenced to 18 years\u2019 imprisonment. In a decision filed on March 15, 2000, the appellate court affirmed defendant\u2019s conviction and sentence. People v. Lander, No. 3\u201498\u20140698 (2000) (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23). On August 13, 2001, defendant filed a pro se postconviction petition alleging he received ineffective assistance of counsel at his trial and on direct appeal. Defendant\u2019s postconviction petition was accompanied by a motion for leave to file a late petition.\nIn his motion, defendant alleged he spoke with a law clerk employed by the prison and several \u201cjailhouse lawyers\u201d when he arrived at Western Illinois Correctional Center (Western) in 1997. Defendant was informed by these various individuals that he was allowed three years after the date of the last court decision to file a postconviction petition. The law clerk and jailhouse lawyers also allegedly informed defendant that he could file affidavits with the court and they would be treated as a postconviction petition. Defendant alleged he filed affidavits in the trial court in December 1998 and March 1999, believing they would be treated as a postconviction petition.\nDefendant further alleged he was transferred to Taylorville Correctional Center (Taylorville) in May 2000. When he arrived, defendant spoke with a staff member in the law library who stated law clerks had not been available at the prison for the past six months. Defendant then informed the prison librarian of the advice he had received from the law clerk and jailhouse lawyers at Western. The prison librarian confirmed defendant was allowed three years after the date of the appellate court decision to file his postconviction petition and that the affidavits he filed would be treated as a postconviction petition. Defendant alleged he was unaware of the deadline for filing a postconviction petition due to his lack of legal knowledge.\nAt the first stage of the proceedings, the trial court found defendant\u2019s pro se petition was not frivolous or patently without merit (725 ILCS 5/122 \u2014 2.1(a)(2) (West 2000)). The court appointed two attorneys to represent defendant. Defendant\u2019s appointed counsel then filed an amended motion for leave to file a postconviction petition, asserting defendant\u2019s pro se petition was in fact timely filed. In a subsequently filed second amended motion prepared by defendant\u2019s attorneys, defendant sought to withdraw his amended motion and restated more specifically the allegations in his previous pro se motion for leave to file a late petition. In particular, defendant alleged that in October 1997, he spoke with a law clerk at Western who stated the time for filing a postconviction petition did not expire until three years after the last court rendered a decision. Defendant identified Harold Anderson as an \u201cinmate and jailhouse lawyer\u201d at Western who stated defendant could file affidavits that would be treated by the court as a postconviction petition. Defendant alleged Kimberly Wells, Sherry Wells, and Lori Ann Lander filed affidavits on his behalf in December 1998 and March 1999, asserting someone other than defendant was responsible for the victim\u2019s injuries.\nThe second amended motion also identified Dwayne Purble as the \u201clibrarian or paralegal\u201d in the Taylorville law library who advised him that he had three years after the appellate court decision was issued to file his petition and that the affidavits filed with the trial court would be treated as a postconviction petition. Defendant asserted he was not informed by his trial or appellate counsel of the deadline for filing a postconviction petition, and he relied in good faith on the advice of the only people available with purported knowledge of the law.\nNo amended postconviction petition was ever filed. The State filed a \u201cmotion to dismiss petitioner\u2019s second amended motion for leave to file a late petition for post-conviction relief.\u201d In its motion, the State sought dismissal of defendant\u2019s postconviction petition as untimely. Following a hearing, the trial court found the petition was untimely and defendant had failed to establish the delay in filing was not due to his culpable negligence. Accordingly, the trial court denied defendant\u2019s second amended motion for leave to file a late postconviction petition and granted the State\u2019s motion to dismiss defendant\u2019s pro se petition.\nOn appeal, defendant argued he was deprived of his right to reasonable assistance of counsel because his attorneys failed to comply with Rule 651(c) and that he alleged sufficient facts to establish the delay in filing his petition was not due to his culpable negligence. The appellate court held the Rule 651(c) consultation requirement did not apply in this case because counsel was required to argue successfully the late filing was not due to defendant\u2019s culpable negligence before the merits of the petition could be addressed. Therefore, counsel had no obligation to consult with defendant to ascertain his claims of constitutional deprivation until after the time bar was overcome. The appellate court further noted counsel included specific dates and names in the second amended motion in an effort to show the late filing was not due to defendant\u2019s culpable negligence. According to the appellate court, these actions demonstrated that counsel consulted with defendant and made any necessary amendments to his petition as required by Rule 651(c).\nIn reviewing defendant\u2019s claim that he was misinformed by various lay people concerning the filing deadline for his postconviction petition, the appellate court held these allegations were insufficient to demonstrate the delay in filing was not due to his culpable negligence. The appellate court therefore affirmed the judgment of the circuit court. No. 3 \u2014 02\u20140436 (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23). We granted defendant\u2019s petition for leave to appeal (177 Ill. 2d R. 315(a)).\nII. ANALYSIS\nIn this appeal, defendant contends the untimeliness of his pro se postconviction petition did not excuse his attorneys from fulfilling their duties under Rule 651(c) and that he was denied reasonable assistance of counsel due to their failure to comply with the rule. The State contends defendant\u2019s substantive claims could not have been presented until the time bar was overcome and, therefore, his attorneys had no obligation to comply with Rule 651(c) until they were granted leave to file a late petition. The State also asserts the actions of defense counsel were reasonable under the circumstances and fulfilled the requirements of Rule 651(c).\nWhen a postconviction petition is dismissed without an evidentiary hearing, our review is de novo. People v. Coleman, 183 Ill. 2d 366, 388-89 (1998). An indigent defendant is entitled to appointed counsel in postconviction proceedings if the petition is not summarily dismissed as frivolous or patently without merit. 725 ILCS 5/122 \u2014 4 (West 2000). A defendant is entitled only to the level of assistance required by the Act, however, because the right to counsel is wholly statutory and is not mandated by the Constitution. People v. Turner, 187 Ill. 2d 406, 410 (1999); People v. Williams, 186 Ill. 2d 55, 60 (1999). The Act requires postconviction counsel to provide a \u201creasonable level of assistance\u201d to a defendant. (Emphasis omitted.) People v. Owens, 139 Ill. 2d 351, 364 (1990).\nSupreme Court Rule 651(c) imposes specific obligations on postconviction counsel to assure the reasonable level of assistance required by the Act. Turner, 187 Ill. 2d at 410. Rule 651(c) requires that the record show counsel has: (1) consulted with the defendant either by mail or in person to ascertain his claims of deprivation of constitutional rights; (2) examined the record of the trial court proceedings; and (3) made any amendments to the pro se petition necessary for an adequate presentation of the defendant\u2019s contentions. 134 Ill. 2d R. 651(c). Compliance with the duties set forth in Rule 651(c) is mandatory (People v. Munson, 206 Ill. 2d 104, 137 (2002)), and may be shown by a certificate filed by postconviction counsel. 134 Ill. 2d R. 651(c). The failure to file a certificate showing compliance with Rule 651(c) is harmless error if the record demonstrates that counsel adequately fulfilled the required duties. Williams, 186 Ill. 2d at 59 n.1.\nWe hold that defendant\u2019s attorneys were required to comply with Rule 651(c) despite the untimeliness of defendant\u2019s pro se petition. We note this court has held the time requirement for filing a postconviction petition is considered an affirmative defense that may be raised, waived, or forfeited by the State. People v. Boclair, 202 Ill. 2d 89, 101 (2002). A dutiful prosecutor may waive this defense at the second stage of the postconviction proceedings if an untimely petition demonstrates the defendant suffered a deprivation of constitutional magnitude. Boclair, 202 Ill. 2d at 101-02.\nOur holding in Boclair necessarily leads to the conclusion that Rule 651(c) applies in these circumstances. In Boclair, we established that the State may determine at the second stage of the proceedings whether to raise or waive the affirmative defense of untimeliness. A prosecutor would have no reason to waive this affirmative defense if a meritorious constitutional claim is not presented in the petition. In order to present defendant\u2019s constitutional claims adequately, postconviction counsel must fully comply with the requirements of Rule 651(c). Therefore, to assure the reasonable assistance of counsel mandated by the Act, postconviction counsel must comply with Rule 651(c) and submit defendant\u2019s substantive claims to the State to give the prosecutor an opportunity to determine whether they are sufficient to merit the State\u2019s waiver of the affirmative defense of untimeliness. Accordingly, the untimeliness of defendant\u2019s petition did not excuse postconviction counsel from fulfilling their duties under Rule 651(c).\nIn this case, counsel did not file a certificate showing compliance with Rule 651(c) and the record does not demonstrate counsel fulfilled the required duties. The only evidence in the record indicating counsel may have consulted with defendant is contained in the second amended motion seeking leave to file a late petition. The allegations contained in that motion, however, only relate to the timeliness of the petition and whether defendant was culpably negligent in the late filing. Thus, even if these allegations are sufficient to show consultation occurred, they clearly do not demonstrate that counsel consulted with defendant to ascertain his claims of constitutional deprivation as required by Rule 651(c).\nThe failure to comply with the consultation requirement in itself demonstrates noncompliance with Rule 651(c). Therefore, we need not discuss whether counsel fulfilled the other duties under Rule 651(c). We conclude the performance of defendant\u2019s postconviction counsel was unreasonable and fell below the level of assistance mandated by Rule 651(c). This matter must be remanded to the circuit court for further postconviction proceedings where defendant is entitled to receive reasonable assistance of counsel.\nDefendant also contends the circuit court erred in dismissing his petition as untimely at the second stage of the proceedings. Defendant concedes his petition was filed outside the time limitation period of the Act (725 ILCS 5/122 \u2014 1(c) (West 2000)), but argues he alleged sufficient facts to show the delay was not due to his culpable negligence. Defendant asserts his good-faith reliance on the advice of \u201cjailhouse lawyers,\u201d a prison law clerk, and a law librarian was reasonable and cannot be considered culpable negligence. In response, the State contends it was defendant\u2019s sole responsibility to ensure his postconviction petition was timely filed and he could have determined the applicable time period by a cursory review of the Act. According to the State, defendant\u2019s reliance on the advice of laypeople was unreasonable and is not sufficient to show the late filing was not due to his culpable negligence.\nWhen reviewing a motion to dismiss at the second stage of the proceedings, we accept as true all factual allegations that are not positively rebutted by the record. People v. Childress, 191 Ill. 2d 168, 174 (2000). As previously stated, we review the dismissal of a postconviction petition without an evidentiary hearing de novo. Coleman, 183 Ill. 2d at 388-89.\nPostconviction proceedings may not be commenced outside the time limitation period in the Act unless the defendant alleges sufficient facts to show the delay in filing was not due to the defendant\u2019s culpable negligence. 725 ILCS 5/122 \u2014 1(c) (West 2000). In Boclair, this court examined the meaning of the term \u201cculpable negligence\u201d in the Act. Boclair, 202 Ill. 2d at 106-08. In doing so, we reviewed definitions of this term from several sources. These definitions generally showed culpable negligence entails blameable neglect involving \u201c \u2018a disregard of the consequences likely to result from one\u2019s actions.\u2019 \u201d Boclair, 202 Ill. 2d at 106, quoting Black\u2019s Law Dictionary 1056 (7th ed. 1999). Accordingly, we concluded the culpable negligence standard in the Act \u201ccontemplates something greater than ordinary negligence and is akin to recklessness.\u201d Boclair, 202 Ill. 2d at 108.\nDefendant relies heavily on this court\u2019s recent decision in People v. Rissley, 206 Ill. 2d 403 (2003), in arguing that the facts here show the delay in filing was not due to his culpable negligence. In Rissley, the defendant alleged the attorney who represented him in his direct appeal contacted him and informed him any postconviction proceeding would have to be filed within three years after the date of his conviction. Rissley, 206 Ill. 2d at 417-18. In an attached affidavit, the defendant\u2019s direct appeal counsel confirmed he gave the defendant this advice. Rissley, 206 Ill. 2d at 418. We found the defendant had no reason to question the advice he received from his direct appeal counsel. Based on this advice, the defendant reasonably believed he had timely filed his petition. Rissley, 206 Ill. 2d at 421. Applying the standard from Boclair, we found the defendant\u2019s conduct could not fairly be viewed as blameable and did not evince an indifference to the likely consequences. Rissley, 206 Ill. 2d at 421. Accordingly, we held the defendant had established the delay in filing his petition was not due to his culpable negligence. Rissley, 206 Ill. 2d at 421.\nIn this case, defendant alleged he received erroneous advice as to the filing deadline for his petition from a law clerk employed by the prison and several \u201cjailhouse lawyers.\u201d This advice was subsequently confirmed by Dwayne Purble, who was identified as a \u201clibrarian or paralegal\u201d at Taylorville. The remaining allegations in defendant\u2019s pleadings do not pertain to the filing deadline or the reason for defendant\u2019s late filing.\nWe find that this case is distinguishable from Rissley. In Rissley, the defendant was not culpably negligent in the late filing because he reasonably relied on the advice of his attorney on direct appeal, a person who had obvious expertise in legal matters and, in particular, criminal appeals. Rissley, 206 Ill. 2d at 421. In contrast, defendant did not allege sufficient facts to show his reliance on the advice of jailhouse lawyers, a prison law clerk, and a law librarian or paralegal was reasonable. While defendant argues his reliance on the advice of the law clerk and law librarian was reasonable because they were employed in the prison library system, he did not allege in his pleadings that these individuals were hired to assist inmates with postconviction matters. Further, defendant did not allege the jailhouse lawyers, law clerk or librarian had any particular training in postconviction matters providing them with specialized knowledge of the filing deadline for a postconviction petition. We cannot find defendant\u2019s reliance on the advice of these individuals was reasonable when there are no facts to show they had any specialized knowledge in postconviction matters.\nMoreover, defendant alleged he sought advice concerning the deadline for filing his petition from the librarian at Taylorville sifter he had previously received advice on this same matter from jailhouse lawyers and a law clerk at Western. Defendant\u2019s actions show he questioned the advice he received from the jailhouse lawyers and law clerk because he continued to seek other advice concerning the deadline for filing his petition. Thus, defendant\u2019s own conduct indicates his reliance on the advice of the jailhouse lawyers and law clerk was not reasonable.\nIt is well settled that all citizens are charged with knowledge of the law. Boclair, 202 Ill. 2d at 104, quoting Atkins v. Parker, 472 U.S. 115, 130, 86 L. Ed. 2d 81, 93, 105 S. Ct. 2520, 2529 (1985). Ignorance of the law or legal rights will not excuse a delay in filing a lawsuit. Boclair, 202 Ill. 2d at 104-05, quoting Pyle v. Ferrell, 12 Ill. 2d 547, 555 (1958). Thus, the sole obligation of knowing the time requirements for filing a postconviction petition remains with the defendant. Defendant\u2019s entrustment of this responsibility to jailhouse lawyers, a prison law clerk, and a law librarian who had no proven specialized knowledge in postconviction matters shows an indifference to the consequences likely to follow from his actions.\nWe caution that our determination in this regard is fact-specific and is not amenable to an easily defined standard or rule. Rather, each case must be examined on its own facts. Based on the specific facts of this case, we conclude defendant\u2019s reliance on the advice of jailhouse lawyers, a law clerk, and a law librarian is insufficient to establish the delay in filing was not due to defendant\u2019s culpable negligence.\nFinally, defendant, in a brief and conclusory argument, asserts a violation of his constitutional right to equal protection of the law. Defendant claims allowing an exception to the time requirement for a defendant who relies on the advice of an attorney, but refusing to allow such an exception for those who rely on the erroneous advice of prison law librarians or law clerks, results in a deprivation of his right to equal protection.\nThe equal protection guarantee requires the government to treat similarly situated individuals in a similar manner. In re Adoption of L.T.M., 214 Ill. 2d 60, 74 (2005), quoting In re R.C., 195 Ill. 2d 291, 309 (2001). State action is a prerequisite to invoking the equal protection clause. L.T.M., 214 Ill. 2d at 73.\nDefendant apparently argues the defendant in Rissley received a benefit of counsel that was not available to him in this case. The legal advice given by direct appeal counsel in Rissley, however, was purely voluntary. See Rissley, 206 Ill. 2d at 417-18. Defendant has been treated the same as other defendants in not being appointed counsel at the first stage of postconviction proceedings. We find the equal protection clause does not apply in this case because there was no state action resulting in dissimilar treatment.\nIII. CONCLUSION\nFor the foregoing reasons, we reverse the dismissal of defendant\u2019s postconviction petition. This matter is remanded to the circuit court to allow defendant an opportunity to amend his postconviction petition with the benefit of reasonable assistance of counsel. The State will then have an opportunity to review defendant\u2019s constitutional claims and determine whether to waive or assert the affirmative defense of untimeliness.\nJudgments reversed; cause remanded with directions.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE KILBRIDE" }, { "text": "JUSTICE FREEMAN,\nconcurring in part and dissenting in part:\nI agree with the majority that, despite the untimely filing of defendant\u2019s postconviction petition, the consultation requirement of Supreme Court Rule 651(c) (134 Ill. 2d R. 651(c)) was not met in this case and, therefore, that the cause must be remanded to the circuit court. However, I do not agree with the majority\u2019s decision to address the issue of whether defendant\u2019s delay in filing his postconviction petition was due to his culpable negligence.\nAs the majority explains, the reason why counsel must fulfill the consultation requirement of Rule 651(c) in this case, and the reason this cause must be remanded to the circuit court, is because a challenge to the timeliness of a postconviction petition is an affirmative defense that may be waived by the State. See 215 Ill. 2d at 585 (\u201cpostconviction counsel must comply with Rule 651(c) and submit defendant\u2019s substantive claims to the State to give the prosecutor an opportunity to determine whether they are sufficient to merit the State\u2019s waiver of the affirmative defense of untimeliness\u201d). However, since the State may elect upon remand to waive the untimeliness of defendant\u2019s petition in this case (see People v. Boclair, 202 Ill. 2d 89, 101-02 (2002)), it is clearly premature for this court to be addressing the issue of whether defendant was culpably negligent in filing his petition. The remand proceedings have not yet occurred, defense counsel has not yet consulted with defendant or made further amendments to the postconviction petition, and the State has not yet chosen to invoke the affirmative defense of untimeliness. That being the case, that portion of the majority\u2019s opinion which addresses the timeliness of defendant\u2019s petition and whether defendant was culpably negligent is advisory. Advisory opinions are to be avoided. Oliveira v. Amoco Oil Co., 201 Ill. 2d 134, 157 (2002). Unlike the majority, I would not address the question of whether defendant was culpably negligent and I express no opinion on that issue.\nCHIEF JUSTICE McMORROW joins in this partial concurrence and partial dissent.", "type": "concurring-in-part-and-dissenting-in-part", "author": "JUSTICE FREEMAN," } ], "attorneys": [ "Robert Agostinelli, Deputy Defender, and Donna K. Kelly, Assistant Defender, of the Office of the State Appellate Defender, of Ottawa, for appellant.", "Lisa Madigan, Attorney General, of Springfield, and Sheldon R. Sobol, State\u2019s Attorney, of Morris (Gary Feinerman, Solicitor General, and Linda D. Woloshin and Russell K. Benton, Assistant Attorneys General, of Chicago, of counsel), for the People." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "(No. 98433.\nTHE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Appellee, v. DONALD A. LANDER, Appellant.\nOpinion filed June 3, 2005.\nFREEMAN, J., joined by McMORROW, C.J., concurring in part and dissenting in part.\nRobert Agostinelli, Deputy Defender, and Donna K. Kelly, Assistant Defender, of the Office of the State Appellate Defender, of Ottawa, for appellant.\nLisa Madigan, Attorney General, of Springfield, and Sheldon R. Sobol, State\u2019s Attorney, of Morris (Gary Feinerman, Solicitor General, and Linda D. Woloshin and Russell K. Benton, Assistant Attorneys General, of Chicago, of counsel), for the People." }, "file_name": "0577-01", "first_page_order": 599, "last_page_order": 613 }