{ "id": 159523, "name": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JEFFERY C. McKAY, Defendant-Appellant", "name_abbreviation": "People v. McKay", "decision_date": "1996-06-28", "docket_number": "No. 2\u201494\u20140541", "first_page": "108", "last_page": "115", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "282 Ill. App. 3d 108" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "166 Ill. 2d 461", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 198918 ], "weight": 4, "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "469" }, { "page": "469" }, { "page": "471" }, { "page": "468" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/166/0461-01" ] }, { "cite": "44 Ill. 2d 173", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2889508 ], "year": 1969, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "179" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/44/0173-01" ] }, { "cite": "72 Ill. 2d 421", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5443843 ], "year": 1978, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "431" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/72/0421-01" ] }, { "cite": "168 Ill. 2d 394", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 307256 ], "weight": 6, "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "406-07", "parenthetical": "a defendant may raise the issue of his entitlement to a competency hearing under section 104 - 21(a) for the first time before the supreme court" }, { "page": "407" }, { "page": "407" }, { "page": "407" }, { "page": "406" }, { "page": "408" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/168/0394-01" ] }, { "cite": "162 Ill. 2d 450", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 477551 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "456" }, { "page": "460-61" }, { "page": "456", "parenthetical": "\" 'failure to observe procedures adequate to protect a defendant's right not to be tried while unfit deprives him of his due process rights to a fair trial' \"" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/162/0450-01" ] }, { "cite": "165 Ill. 2d 51", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 483552 ], "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "62", "parenthetical": "otherwise waived issues may be considered under the plain error rule if the evidence is closely balanced or the alleged errors were so egregious that they denied the defendant a fundamentally fair trial" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/165/0051-01" ] }, { "cite": "191 Ill. App. 3d 544", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2511507 ], "year": 1989, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "553", "parenthetical": "once a court determines it lacks jurisdiction, it must, sua sponte, dismiss the cause" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/191/0544-01" ] }, { "cite": "264 Ill. App. 3d 1035", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 680683 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1037" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/264/1035-01" ] }, { "cite": "145 Ill. 2d 475", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5595712 ], "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "480" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/145/0475-01" ] }, { "cite": "271 Ill. App. 3d 788", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 249063 ], "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "796-97" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/271/0788-01" ] }, { "cite": "108 Ill. 2d 54", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3130811 ], "year": 1985, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "66", "parenthetical": "objection to jury instruction is waived if party does not object or tender an alternate instruction" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/108/0054-01" ] }, { "cite": "122 Ill. 2d 176", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5550081 ], "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "185-86", "parenthetical": "asserted error must be included in a post-trial motion" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/122/0176-01" ] }, { "cite": "166 Ill. 2d 1", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 198907 ], "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "27", "parenthetical": "trial counsel must make a contemporaneous objection to preserve alleged error for appellate review" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/166/0001-01" ] }, { "cite": "250 Ill. App. 3d 55", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2920128 ], "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "63" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/250/0055-01" ] }, { "cite": "257 Ill. App. 3d 1047", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2891456 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1050" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/257/1047-01" ] }, { "cite": "243 Ill. App. 3d 818", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5108809 ], "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "820-21" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/243/0818-01" ] }, { "cite": "276 Ill. App. 3d 1002", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 927601 ], "year": 1995, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1005" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/276/1002-01" ] }, { "cite": "68 Ill. 2d 261", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5809512 ], "year": 1977, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "267" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/68/0261-01" ] }, { "cite": "124 Ill. 2d 93", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3218603 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "105, 107" }, { "page": "107-09" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/124/0093-01" ] }, { "cite": "158 Ill. 2d 27", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 780262 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "32, 34" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/158/0027-01" ] }, { "cite": "171 Ill. 2d 469", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 57331 ], "weight": 5, "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "471" }, { "page": "471", "parenthetical": "\"[tjhough the appellate court may have jurisdiction, Rule 604(d) precludes it from considering [an] appeal *** unless the defendant first files with the trial court a written motion to either withdraw the guilty plea [citation] or reconsider the sentence\" (emphasis omitted)" }, { "page": "472" }, { "page": "472" }, { "page": "473" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/171/0469-01" ] }, { "cite": "67 Ill. 2d 77", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5811651 ], "year": 1977, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "85-86" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/67/0077-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 825, "char_count": 18276, "ocr_confidence": 0.79, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.515938671868502e-07, "percentile": 0.8835437896186226 }, "sha256": "da8bc87a9b0bd3ca965b800cab5f0b368e7942bbcb46688f29deb5af0c62cd0a", "simhash": "1:bb3ee50f7f0c759f", "word_count": 2986 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T22:18:31.167440+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JEFFERY C. McKAY, Defendant-Appellant." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JUSTICE HUTCHINSON\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nDefendant, Jeffery McKay, appeals the denial of his motion to reconsider the sentence imposed by the trial court following the entry of defendant\u2019s guilty plea to two counts of burglary (720 ILCS 5/19 \u2014 1(a) (West 1994)). Defendant\u2019s guilty plea was entered on January 12, 1994. On March 18, 1994, after hearing the mitigation testimony of defendant and his mother, the trial court imposed two consecutive six-year terms of imprisonment. Defendant filed a timely motion to reconsider sentence (see 145 Ill. 2d R. 604(d)) which was denied on May 6, 1994. This appeal followed.\nOn appeal, defendant contends he was taking a psychotropic medication during the proceedings below and therefore was entitled to a fitness hearing (see 725 ILCS 5/104 \u2014 21(a) (West 1994) (now codified, as amended, at 725 ILCS Ann. 5/104 \u2014 21(a) (Smith-Hurd Supp. 1996))). The State counters we lack jurisdiction to consider defendant\u2019s contention because defendant failed to file a motion to withdraw his guilty plea and vacate the judgment before filing his notice of appeal. We note that in its appellate brief the State does not address the merits of defendant\u2019s contention. We remand for further factual findings.\nThe presentence report contains several indications defendant may have been receiving psychotropic medication. The report quoted defendant as describing his mental state as being \" 'confused, meds problemy [sic] depresi\u00f3n [sic], agigity [sic], feel sucidel [sic].\u2019 \u201d Additionally, the report contains the following passage: \"defendant stated since age 17, he\u2019s been in and out of hospitals, and halfway houses, i.e. Mercy Center, Aurora, Chicago Reed Hospital, Elgin State Hospital, a nursing home. Since November 1991, he\u2019s been seeing a psychiatrist for medication monitoring.\u201d\nThe mitigation testimony of defendant\u2019s mother, Marsha Early (Early), also indicates defendant might have been receiving psychotropic medication. Early testified defendant suffered from schizophrenia, learning disabilities, borderline personality disorder, and dyslexia. Responding to defense counsel\u2019s question concerning whether medication had been prescribed for defendant, Early replied, \"He\u2019s currently on Stelazine.\u201d Early stated Stelazine had been prescribed by \"Dr. Kirts.\u201d Defense counsel then asked Early, \"How does [defendant\u2019s] behavior differ when he\u2019s not on his Stelazine?\u201d Early answered, \"When he\u2019s taking the medication he can think clearly and he is able to communicate with people. When he\u2019s not taking it he\u2019s \u2014 he just doesn\u2019t communicate very well.\u201d\nDefendant also gave testimony indicating he may have been receiving psychotropic medication. Defendant testified, \"I think better\u201d when taking the medication. He also stated, \"I don\u2019t care about too much\u201d when he doesn\u2019t take the medication. Defendant replied, \"Yes\u201d when asked whether he had been taking his medication since being incarcerated. On cross-examination, defendant stated he had been on medications since childhood and that physicians had changed the types of medications he took from time to time.\nWe first consider whether we lack jurisdiction over this appeal because defendant failed to file a motion to withdraw his guilty plea and vacate the judgment before filing his notice of appeal. Supreme Court Rule 604(d) provides in pertinent part:\n\"No appeal from a judgment entered upon a plea of guilty shall be taken unless the defendant, within 30 days of the date on which sentence is imposed, files in the trial court a motion to reconsider the sentence, if only the sentence is being challenged, or, if the plea is being challenged, a motion to withdraw his plea of guilty and vacate the judgment.\u201d (Emphasis added.) 145 Ill. 2d R. 604(d).\nOur supreme court has stated the filing of a Rule 604(d) motion is a \"prerequisite\u201d (People v. Frey, 67 Ill. 2d 77, 85-86 (1977)), and a \"condition precedent\u201d (People v. Foster, 171 Ill. 2d 469, 471 (1996); People v. Janes, 158 Ill. 2d 27, 32, 34 (1994); People v. Wilk, 124 Ill. 2d 93, 105, 107 (1988); People v. Stacey, 68 Ill. 2d 261, 267 (1977)), to a defendant\u2019s right to appeal following the entry of a guilty plea. Nowhere in Foster, Janes, Wilk, Stacey, or Frey did the supreme court state the filing of a Rule 604(d) motion is required to vest the appellate court with jurisdiction over an appeal from a guilty plea. However, a number of appellate court opinions have construed the \"condition precedent\u201d language as indicating the filing of a Rule 604(d) motion is a jurisdictional requirement. See, e.g., People v. Clark, 276 Ill. App. 3d 1002, 1005 (1995); People v. Castillo, 243 Ill. App. 3d 818, 820-21 (1993). On other occasions, Wilk and its progeny have been construed as standing for the proposition that failure to file a Rule 604(d) motion results in the waiver of a defendant\u2019s right to appeal. See, e.g., People v. Cochrane, 257 Ill. App. 3d 1047, 1050 (1994); People v. Young, 250 Ill. App. 3d 55, 63 (1993).\nA Rule 604(d) motion is not jurisdictional in the same sense as a notice of appeal is essential to vest the appellate court with jurisdiction over a civil appeal. Jurisdiction has been defined as a court\u2019s authority to \"take cognizance of and decide cases\u201d (Black\u2019s Law Dictionary 766 (5th ed. 1979)) and \"exercise its power with respect to a particular matter\u201d (Ballantine\u2019s Law Dictionary 690 (3d ed. 1969)). Notwithstanding its jurisdiction, an appellate court may find an issue is waived for a variety of reasons. See People v. Mahaffey, 166 Ill. 2d 1, 27 (1995) (trial counsel must make a contemporaneous objection to preserve alleged error for appellate review); People v. Enoch, 122 Ill. 2d 176, 185-86 (1988) (asserted error must be included in a post-trial motion); People v. Almo, 108 Ill. 2d 54, 66 (1985) (objection to jury instruction is waived if party does not object or tender an alternate instruction). The underlying purpose of waiver is to preserve finite judicial resources by creating an incentive for litigants to bring to trial courts\u2019 attention alleged errors, thereby giving trial courts an opportunity to correct their mistakes. See In re Marriage of Schlam, 271 Ill. App. 3d 788, 796-97 (1995). As such, the doctrine of waiver is an admonition to the parties, not a limitation on the appellate court\u2019s jurisdiction. American Federation of State, County, & Municipal Employees, Council 31 v. County of Cook, 145 Ill. 2d 475, 480 (1991).\nWe hold that Foster, Janes, Wilk, Stacey, and Frey mandate an appellate court find waiver if a defendant fails to file a Rule 604(d) motion. In Wilk, our supreme court \u2014 concerned Rule 604(d) was widely ignored by both courts and attorneys \u2014 determined defendants who fail to file a Rule 604(d) motion may not pursue a direct appeal; instead, the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (725 ILCS 5/122 \u2014 1 et seq. (West 1994)) is the appropriate avenue of relief for such defendants. Wilk, 124 Ill. 2d at 107-09. From this proposition it does not inexorably follow that an appellate court lacks jurisdiction over an appeal taken from a guilty plea in the absence of a Rule 604(d) motion. Rather, the Wilk line of cases and Rule 604(d) represent an instruction from the supreme court requiring the appellate courts to find defendants waive their right to appeal by failing to file a Rule 604(d) motion. Wilk and its progeny, therefore, withdraw from an appellate court not jurisdiction, but rather the decision whether waiver should bar the appeal of a defendant who has not filed a Rule 604(d) motion. See Foster, 171 Ill. 2d at 471 (\"[tjhough the appellate court may have jurisdiction, Rule 604(d) precludes it from considering [an] appeal *** unless the defendant first files with the trial court a written motion to either withdraw the guilty plea [citation] or reconsider the sentence\u201d (emphasis omitted)). The supreme court \u2014 through its opinions and Rule 604(d) \u2014 has determined that in almost all instances waiver applies.\nOur interpretation of the Wilk line of cases is supported by the practice of entertaining appeals from guilty pleas \u2014 even though no Rule 604(d) motion has been filed \u2014 if a defendant was not properly admonished under Rule 605(b). See 145 Ill. 2d R. 605(b). This practice is commonly referred to as the \"admonitions exception\u201d to Rule 604(d) waiver. If the failure to file a Rule 604(d) motion truly deprived an appellate court of jurisdiction, the court would be without power to decide an appeal under the \"admonitions exception.\u201d The only course of action would be to dismiss the appeal. Fligelman v. City of Chicago, 264 Ill. App. 3d 1035, 1037 (1994); People ex rel. Foreman v. Village of North Barrington, 191 Ill. App. 3d 544, 553 (1989) (once a court determines it lacks jurisdiction, it must, sua sponte, dismiss the cause). The supreme court has expressly agreed with the \"admonitions exception\u201d as applied by several panels of the appellate court. Foster, 171 Ill. 2d at 472. In light of the foregoing, we hold that we have jurisdiction over defendant\u2019s appeal. We next address the issue of waiver.\nIf there is a bona fide question of defendant\u2019s competence\u2014 and, therefore, his ability to understand his rights and obligations under Rules 604(d) and 605(b) \u2014 we will not find defendant has waived his right to appeal because he failed to file a motion to withdraw his guilty plea and vacate the judgment. See, e.g., People v. Williams, 165 Ill. 2d 51, 62 (1995) (otherwise waived issues may be considered under the plain error rule if the evidence is closely balanced or the alleged errors were so egregious that they denied the defendant a fundamentally fair trial). In Foster the supreme court stated, \"Having been instructed regarding Rule 604(d)\u2019s mandates, a defendant cannot then argue procedural unfairness when he suffers the ramifications of his noncompliance.\u201d (Emphasis added.) Foster, 171 Ill. 2d at 472. The emphasized language indicates it is a defendant\u2019s failure to file a Rule 604(d) motion, despite a trial court\u2019s admonitions that in order to appeal he must do so, that results in waiver. Implicit in this statement is the assumption the defendant understands the admonitions. A defendant is unfit to stand trial if \"he is unable to understand the nature and purpose of the proceedings against him or to assist in his defense.\u201d People v. Brandon, 162 Ill. 2d 450, 456 (1994), citing 725 ILCS 5/104 \u2014 10 (West 1992). It is difficult to imagine that a defendant who is unfit under section 104 \u2014 10 could be presumed able to comprehend the Rule 605(b) admonitions. In Foster, the supreme court stated, \"Where [Rule 605(b)] admonitions have not been issued, it would violate procedural due process rights to hold a defendant responsible for noncompliance with the strictures of Rule 604(d).\u201d Foster, 171 Ill. 2d at 473. By the same token, it would violate procedural due process rights to find a waiver under Rule 604(d) if a defendant cannot comprehend the Rule 605(b) admonitions. It is of no consequence to inform a deaf man of his rights through the spoken word. Because a bona fide doubt concerning defendant\u2019s competency would undermine the Foster rationale for waiver, we find the supreme court would not require us to impose waiver under Wilk or Rule 604(d). See People v. Kinkead, 168 Ill. 2d 394, 406-07 (1995) (a defendant may raise the issue of his entitlement to a competency hearing under section 104 \u2014 21(a) for the first time before the supreme court).\nDefendant contends his use of psychotropic medication during the proceedings below entitled him to a fitness hearing under section 104 \u2014 21(a). At the time defendant pleaded guilty and sentence was imposed, section 104 \u2014 21(a) provided in relevant part:\n\"A defendant who is receiving psychotropic drugs or other medications under medical direction is entitled to a hearing on the issue of his fitness while under medication.\u201d (Emphasis added.) See 725 ILCS 5/104 \u2014 21(a) (West 1994) (now codified, as amended, at 725 ILCS Ann. 5/104 \u2014 21(a) (Smith-Hurd Supp. 1996)).\nNormally, deciding whether there is a bona fide doubt of a defendant\u2019s competency to stand trial is entrusted to the discretion of the trial court. E.g., People v. Murphy, 72 Ill. 2d 421, 431 (1978); People v. Stanhope, 44 Ill. 2d 173, 179 (1969). However, the supreme court concluded the above-emphasized language expressed the legislature\u2019s determination that the fact a defendant is receiving psychotropic medication, in and of itself, creates a bona fide doubt of that defendant\u2019s fitness to stand trial. Kinkead, 168 Ill. 2d at 407, citing People v. Gevas, 166 Ill. 2d 461, 469 (1995). As such, \"the broad discretionary standard ordinarily applied in deciding whether there exists a bona fide doubt yields when the accused is taking psychotropic medication under medical direction at the time of his trial or sentencing.\u201d Kinkead, 168 Ill. 2d at 407, citing People v. Brandon, 162 Ill. 2d 450, 460-61 (1994). Therefore, if the preamendment version of section 104 \u2014 21(a) applies, a fitness hearing is mandatory and whether to conduct such a hearing is \"not subject to the trial court\u2019s discretion.\u201d Kinkead, 168 Ill. 2d at 407. Finally, a trial court has a duty to investigate a defendant\u2019s fitness \"where the record indicates that a defendant\u2019s use of psychotropic medication was proximate to the time he pleaded guilty and was sentenced.\u201d Kinkead, 168 Ill. 2d at 406, citing Gevas, 166 Ill. 2d at 469.\nThe presentence report indicates defendant had a history of mental illness and treatment attempts. Defendant was quoted as reporting confusion (possibly caused by his medications), depression, agitation, and suicidal thoughts. The report also revealed defendant had been \"seeing a psychiatrist for medications monitoring\u201d since November 1991.\nEvidence presented at the sentencing hearing also indicates defendant may have been receiving psychotropic drugs. During her mitigation testimony, Early revealed defendant suffered from a variety of mental illnesses. Among these were schizophrenia. We note this illness is often characterized by a loss of contact with reality and a degradation or an absence of the ability to function in everyday life. Webster\u2019s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary 1050 (1990). Early stated defendant was \"currently\u201d taking a drug called \"Stelazine.\u201d During his testimony, defendant also stated he was taking medications. We hold the record contains ample indications defendant may have been taking psychotropic medication either during or proximate to the time he pleaded guilty and was sentenced. Under Kinkead, therefore, the trial court was on notice \u2014 or should have been on notice \u2014 it may have been obligated to conduct a fitness hearing pursuant to the preamendment version of section 104 \u2014 21(a).\nBecause threshold factual findings \u2014 the answers to which are beyond the scope of this record \u2014 must be made to determine whether defendant was entitled to a fitness hearing, we decline to vacate the judgment against defendant. On remand, we direct the trial court to answer the following factual questions: (1) whether defendant was actually taking Stelazine or any other drug either during or proximate to the time he pleaded guilty and was sentenced; and (2) whether Stelazine \u2014 or any other drug defendant may have been taking under medical direction \u2014 is a \"psychotropic drug\u201d within the meaning of section 104 \u2014 21(a). If both questions are answered affirmatively, we hold defendant was entitled to a fitness hearing under the preamendment version of section 104 \u2014 21(a). In Kinkead, the supreme court stated it is impossible to conduct a meaningful fitness hearing retrospectively nunc pro tunc the time of the defendant\u2019s original trial and sentencing. Kinkead, 168 Ill. 2d at 408, citing Gevas, 166 Ill. 2d at 471. Therefore, if the trial court\u2019s factual findings reveal defendant was entitled to a fitness hearing, we direct the trial court to vacate the convictions against defendant. See Gevas, 166 Ill. 2d at 468, quoting Brandon, 162 Ill. 2d at 456 (\" 'failure to observe procedures adequate to protect a defendant\u2019s right not to be tried while unfit deprives him of his due process rights to a fair trial\u2019 \u201d).\nIn closing, we note the legislature has recently amended section 104 \u2014 21(a). The amended provision provides:\n\"A defendant who is receiving psychotropic drugs under medical direction is entitled to a hearing on the issue of his or her fitness while under medication; however, no hearing is required unless the court finds there is a bona fide doubt of the defendant\u2019s fitness.\u201d (Emphasis added.) 725 ILCS Ann. 5/104 \u2014 21(a) (SmithHurd Supp. 1996).\nThe amended section 104 \u2014 21(a) became effective on December 13, 1995. On remand, however, the preamendment version of section 104 \u2014 21(a) applies to defendant. This is because the Statute on Statutes (5 ILCS 70/0.01 et seq. (West 1994)) provides in relevant part:\n\"No new law shall be construed to [affect] any penalty, forfeiture or punishment so incurred, or any right accrued, or claim *** arising before the new law takes effect ***.\u201d (Emphasis added.) 5 ILCS 70/4 (West 1994).\nThe crucial determination is when defendant\u2019s right to a fitness hearing accrued. If defendant was taking a psychotropic drug during or proximate to either the time he pleaded guilty or was sentenced, his entitlement to a fitness hearing accrued on either January 12, 1994, or March 18, 1994, respectively. Therefore, because both dates are prior to December 13, 1995, the amended version of section 104\u2014 21(a) does not apply to defendant.\nFor the foregoing reasons, we remand the cause to the circuit court of De Kalb County for further factual findings and proceedings in accordance with this opinion.\nRemanded with directions.\nMcLAREN, P.J., and INGLIS, J., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "JUSTICE HUTCHINSON" } ], "attorneys": [ "G. Joseph Weller and Paul J. Glaser, both of State Appellate Defender\u2019s Office, of Elgin, for appellant.", "Michael P. Coghlan, State\u2019s Attorney, of Sycamore (William L. Browers and Mary Beth Burns, both of State\u2019s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor\u2019s Office, of counsel), for the People." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JEFFERY C. McKAY, Defendant-Appellant.\nSecond District\nNo. 2\u201494\u20140541\nOpinion filed June 28, 1996.\nRehearing denied August 21, 1996.\nG. Joseph Weller and Paul J. Glaser, both of State Appellate Defender\u2019s Office, of Elgin, for appellant.\nMichael P. Coghlan, State\u2019s Attorney, of Sycamore (William L. Browers and Mary Beth Burns, both of State\u2019s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor\u2019s Office, of counsel), for the People." }, "file_name": "0108-01", "first_page_order": 126, "last_page_order": 133 }