{ "id": 3949177, "name": "In re S.G. et al., Minors (The People of the State of Illinois, Petitioner-Appellee, v. T.O., Respondent-Appellant)", "name_abbreviation": "People v. T.O.", "decision_date": "2004-04-07", "docket_number": "No. 5-02-0594", "first_page": "476", "last_page": "482", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "347 Ill. App. 3d 476" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.", "id": 8837, "name": "Illinois Appellate Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "615 N.E.2d 1336", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1993, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1341-42" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "246 Ill. App. 3d 484", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 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App. 3d 669", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2882179 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "673-74" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/258/0669-01" ] }, { "cite": "516 N.E.2d 1326", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1335" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "163 Ill. App. 3d 877", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3547227 ], "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "891" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/163/0877-01" ] }, { "cite": "644 N.E.2d 1172", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1182" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "163 Ill. 2d 187", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 477614 ], "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "209" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/163/0187-01" ] }, { "cite": "405 N.E.2d 748", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "749" }, { "page": "749" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "79 Ill. 2d 466", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3068985 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1980, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "468" }, { "page": "468" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/79/0466-01" ] }, { "cite": "390 N.E.2d 519", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "521" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "71 Ill. App. 3d 705", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5578881 ], "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "707" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/71/0705-01" ] }, { "cite": "518 N.E.2d 691", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "700" }, { "page": "701-02" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "165 Ill. App. 3d 112", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3614547 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1988, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "127" }, { "page": "127" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/165/0112-01" ] }, { "cite": "429 N.E.2d 1364", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "weight": 2, "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1370" }, { "page": "1370" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "102 Ill. App. 3d 1005", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3072594 ], "weight": 2, "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "1011" }, { "page": "1011" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/102/1005-01" ] }, { "cite": "771 N.E.2d 386", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "387" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "199 Ill. 2d 541", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 58923 ], "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "544" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/199/0541-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 743, "char_count": 14837, "ocr_confidence": 0.753, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.4980773673293722e-07, "percentile": 0.6651387783612095 }, "sha256": "6472eac514d557472e1d74b886bc8a2963d04db3869b6d2f149fad7af2f299c6", "simhash": "1:212c74453355bdd0", "word_count": 2465 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:28:47.759631+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "WELCH and KUEHN, JJ., concur." ], "parties": [ "In re S.G. et al., Minors (The People of the State of Illinois, Petitioner-Appellee, v. T.O., Respondent-Appellant)." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "PRESIDING JUSTICE CHAPMAN\ndelivered the opinion of the court:\nMinors S.G., M.L., and T.L. were placed into the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (Department) on October 19, 1998, after it was reported that their mother, respondent T.O., had neglected and abused them by subjecting them to physical violence in their home while she was intoxicated. The minors were adjudicated neglected and abused pursuant to sections 2 \u2014 3(1) and (2) of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (Act) (705 ILCS 405/2 \u2014 3(1), (2) (West 1998)), made wards of the court, and placed with a foster family, where they have remained. On August 22, 2002, the trial court determined that T.O. was an unfit parent, and it terminated her parental rights, as well as the rights of the putative fathers. T.O. appeals the trial court\u2019s judgments finding the minors to be abused and neglected, finding her to be an unfit parent, and terminating her parental rights, based on the existence of a per se conflict of interest. We reverse and remand for new proceedings.\nThe facts pertinent to this appeal are simple. The trial court appointed counsel for T.O. and a guardian ad litem (GAL) for the minors at the first of several hearings that occurred in this matter. The transcript of the hearing reflects that the trial court appointed Brian Wernsman to represent T.O. because he had represented her earlier in the day in a criminal matter. (Wernsman, however, was not present at the hearing, and T.O. examined the State\u2019s sole witness herself.) Michael McHaney, a Marion County public defender, was appointed as the GAL for the minors and cross-examined the State\u2019s witness. The trial court concluded that there was probable cause to believe that the minors were abused, and the court placed them in the temporary custody of the Department.\nTwo months after the first hearing, the trial court vacated Wernsman\u2019s appointment as counsel for T.O. and appointed McHaney to represent T.O. Another attorney was appointed as the minors\u2019 GAL. The record does not reflect the trial court\u2019s reason for making these changes. McHaney represented T.O. at the remaining hearings, which culminated in T.O.\u2019s parental rights being terminated. In sum, McHaney represented the minors as their court-appointed GAL from October 19, 1998, until December 17, 1998, and represented T.O. as her court-appointed counsel from December 17, 1998, through May of 2002.\nT.O. contends that she was denied the effective assistance of counsel because McHaney had represented the minors as their GAL earlier in the proceedings. The sole issue for our review is whether McHaney\u2019s status as the GAL for the minors and his subsequent representation of T.O. in proceedings brought under the Act created a per se conflict of interest that rendered counsel\u2019s assistance ineffective. The issue of whether counsel labored under a per se conflict of interest is subject to de novo review. People v. Miller, 199 Ill. 2d 541, 544, 771 N.E.2d 386, 387 (2002). We find that McHaney\u2019s prior representation of the minors created a per se conflict of interest in this case, which requires a reversal of the trial court\u2019s judgments.\nSection 1 \u2014 5 of the Act (705 ILCS 405/1 \u2014 5 (West 2002)) provides that minors and their parents have the right to be represented by counsel in a juvenile proceeding. If a party requests counsel and is unable to afford the fees, the trial court must appoint the public defender or other counsel as the case may require. 705 ILCS 405/1\u2014 5(1) (West 2002). Although proceedings under the Act are not intended to be adversarial (705 ILCS 405/1 \u2014 5(1) (West 2002)), the Act contemplates the likelihood of conflicts of interest arising between minors and their parents. Section 2 \u2014 17 requires the trial court to appoint a GAL in certain circumstances and permits the court to appoint a GAL whenever a conflict arises. 705 ILCS 405/2 \u2014 17 (West 2002).\n\u201cImplicit within the right to counsel is that such representation he effective.\u201d In re Johnson, 102 Ill. App. 3d 1005, 1011, 429 N.E.2d 1364, 1370 (1981); In re R.G., 165 Ill. App. 3d 112, 127, 518 N.E.2d 691, 700 (1988). A parent\u2019s right to the effective assistance of counsel entitles her to the \u201cundivided loyalty\u201d of her attorney. In re Lackey, 71 Ill. App. 3d 705, 707, 390 N.E.2d 519, 521 (1979), aff\u2019d sub nom. People v. Lackey, 79 Ill. 2d 466, 468, 405 N.E.2d 748, 749 (1980); In re Johnson, 102 Ill. App. 3d 1005, 1011, 429 N.E.2d 1364, 1370 (1981). To protect this right, counsel may not represent conflicting interests or undertake the discharge of inconsistent duties. People v. Lawson, 163 Ill. 2d 187, 209, 644 N.E.2d 1172, 1182 (1994). This concept is so central to our profession that it is embodied in our Rules of Professional Conduct. 134 Ill. 2d R. 1.9(a).\nAlthough there is no constitutional right to counsel in cases brought under the Act (People v. Lackey, 79 Ill. 2d 466, 468, 405 N.E.2d 748, 749 (1980)), Illinois courts apply the standard utilized in criminal cases to gauge the effectiveness of counsel in juvenile proceedings. See In re R.G., 165 Ill. App. 3d at 127, 518 N.E.2d at 701-02; In re J.C., 163 Ill. App. 3d 877, 891, 516 N.E.2d 1326, 1335 (1987); In re D.M., 258 Ill. App. 3d 669, 673-74, 631 N.E.2d 341, 344 (1994). Thus, it would follow that our resolution of T.O.\u2019s ineffective-assistance-of-counsel claim would be guided by the standards set out in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674, 104 S. Ct. 2052 (1984), and adopted by the Illinois Supreme Court in People v. Albanese, 104 Ill. 2d 504, 473 N.E.2d 1246 (1984). Generally, in order to establish ineffective assistance of counsel, one must show both that counsel\u2019s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and that a reasonable probability exists that, but for the error, the result would have been different. People v. Peeples, 205 Ill. 2d 480, 511-13, 793 N.E.2d 641, 661-62 (2002). However, Illinois courts apply a different standard to determine whether certain conflicts of interest result in the ineffective assistance of counsel. The supreme court has recognized that in cases where a conflict is created by defense counsel\u2019s prior or contemporaneous association with either the prosecution or the victim, the effect of counsel\u2019s conflict may be so subtle or imperceptible that the record on appeal may not reveal the extent of the influence. In such a case, the complainant will not be able to demonstrate that counsel acted unreasonably or that the outcome of the case would have been different absent the conflict. This led the supreme court to develop what has been coined the \u201cper se conflict of interest\u201d rule. People v. Spreitzer, 123 Ill. 2d 1, 13-23, 525 N.E.2d 30, 34-39 (1988) (the supreme court explains and clarifies the different classes of conflicts, the per se rule, and related terminology).\nFirst adopted by the supreme court in People v. Stoval, 40 Ill. 2d 109, 239 N.E.2d 441 (1968), the per se conflict-of-interest rule as applied in that case provides that when a criminal defendant\u2019s court-appointed counsel also represented the victim, the defendant is not required to establish actual prejudice in order to have his conviction reversed and to be entitled to a new trial. Stoval, 40 Ill. 2d at 113, 239 N.E.2d at 444. Put another way, to obtain a reversal, a party complaining of such a conflict need not show that her counsel\u2019s performance was affected by the existence of the conflict. Spreitzer, 123 Ill. 2d at 15, 525 N.E.2d at 35. In Stoval, the defendant\u2019s court-appointed counsel was simultaneously representing the defendant\u2019s victim in an unrelated civil suit, and defense counsel himself, as well as other members of his firm, had represented the victim in the past. Stoval, 40 Ill. 2d at 112, 239 N.E.2d at 443. The Stoval court stated:\n\u201c[S]ound policy disfavors the representation of an accused, especially when counsel is appointed, by an attorney with possible conflict of interests. It is unfair to the accused, for who can determine whether his representation was affected, at least, subliminally, by the conflict. Too, it places an additional burden on counsel, however conscientious, and exposes him unnecessarily to later charges that this representation was not completely faithful. In a case involving such a conflict there is no necessity for the defendant to show actual prejudice.\u201d Stoval, 40 Ill. 2d at 113, 239 N.E.2d at 444.\nAs we mentioned above, the per se conflict-of-interest rule is not limited to conflicts that arise as a result of counsel\u2019s simultaneous representation of criminal defendants and their victims. The rule has been applied to other conflicts, including where court-appointed defense counsel previously appeared in the same proceeding on behalf of the prosecution as an assistant State\u2019s Attorney. See People v. Kester, 66 Ill. 2d 162, 361 N.E.2d 569 (1977). In Kester, the supreme court acknowledged this factual distinction yet held that its rationale in Stoval controlled. The court stated as follows:\n\u201c[T]he attorney might be subject to subtle influences which could be viewed as adversely affecting his ability to defend his client in an independent and vigorous manner. It might be contended, for example, that the advice and performance of court-appointed counsel in such a situation was affected by a subliminal reluctance to attack pleadings or other actions and decisions by the prosecution which he may have been personally involved with or responsible for. *** As we noted in Stoval, it would be extremely difficult for an accused to show the extent to which this may have occurred.\u201d Kester, 66 Ill. 2d at 167-68, 361 N.E.2d at 572.\nWe find that the policy concerns addressed by the supreme court in Stoval and Kester are equally present in the case before us. McHaney represented parties with adverse objectives at different times in the same proceedings. The State does not contest that the interests of T.O. and the minors were diametrically opposed in the proceedings below. Indeed, T.O. sought to retain the custody of her children and her parental rights while the State, the Department, and McHaney (as the GAL for the minors) advocated otherwise. The record may not reflect the nature and extent of the conflict\u2019s effect on McHaney\u2019s advocacy, thereby eliminating any possibility that T.O. could establish prejudice. Only McHaney can tell us to what degree, if any, his representation of the minors affected his representation of T.O. This situation should not be tolerated by our courts in any proceeding, civil or criminal.\nWe can think of no reason that a party in a proceeding brought pursuant to the Act should not be afforded the same standard of legal representation as a criminal defendant. Further, because this case involves court-appointed counsel rather than retained counsel, it demands closer scrutiny for conflicts of interest. People v. Berland, 74 Ill. 2d 286, 303, 385 N.E.2d 649, 656 (1978). Consequently, we apply the per se conflict-of-interest rule in this case to advance the sound administration of justice. Although the record does not reveal that McHaney did not represent T.O. in a competent and dedicated manner with complete loyalty, we find that a per se conflict existed in this case as a result of his prior representation of the minors as their GAL and that T.O. need not show prejudice to secure a reversal.\nIn arguing that no per se conflict exists in this case, the State emphasizes the brevity of McHaney\u2019s GAL appointment- on behalf of the minors and the limited activity he engaged in on the minors\u2019 behalf. Although it is true that the record reflects that McHaney appeared in court on behalf of the minors only once, at the shelter-care hearing, the State\u2019s argument belies the underlying purpose of the per se conflict-of-interest rule. It is what is not in the record, or what is incapable of being reflected by the record, that prompts us to apply the per se conflict-of-interest rule in this case. Our concern is with the opinions McHaney had already formulated about the \u201cbest interests of the children\u201d when representing them and how those opinions might adversely impact his ability to later effectively represent T.O. with \u201cundivided loyalty.\u201d Therefore, we decline to evaluate how actively McHaney represented the minors in assessing T.O.\u2019s conflict-of-interest claim.\nThe State relies solely on In re D.B., 246 Ill. App. 3d 484, 615 N.E.2d 1336 (1993), to support its argument that no per se conflict was created in this case. In that case, the mother, whose parental rights had been terminated, argued that she had been prejudiced by a conflict of interest of her attorney, who had previously served as the minor\u2019s GAL. Her attorney, however, had informed her of his prior representation of the minor and told her that he did not believe there would be a conflict of interest. The court held that there was no per se conflict of interest because counsel had not simultaneously represented the minor and the mother and because the mother continued to have her attorney represent her even though he had disclosed to her his prior representation of the minor. In re D.B., 246 Ill. App. 3d at 492, 615 N.E.2d at 1341-42. We decline to follow In re D.B. for the proposition that only simultaneous representation can create a per se conflict of interest. Additionally, unlike the facts in In re D.B., the record here does not reveal any consultation between T.O. and McHaney about the potential for a conflict of interest, let alone a knowing waiver of her right to conflict-free counsel.\nUnder the circumstances in this case, where T.O.\u2019s court-appointed counsel had previously served in the same juvenile proceedings as the GAL for the minors, we hold that prejudice is presumed and that T.O. is not required to demonstrate that the conflict contributed to any of the judgments entered against her. For the foregoing reasons, we reverse the judgments of the trial court finding that the minors are abused and neglected, finding T.O. to be unfit, and terminating T.O.\u2019s parental rights, and we remand for the appointment of new counsel for T.O. and a new hearing on the amended petition. The trial court\u2019s judgments terminating the parental rights of the putative fathers, Duane L. and Claude O., are affirmed.\nAffirmed in part and reversed in part; cause remanded.\nWELCH and KUEHN, JJ., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "PRESIDING JUSTICE CHAPMAN" } ], "attorneys": [ "Matthew S. Wilzbach, of Wilzbach & Wilzbach, of Salem, for appellant.", "James Creason, State\u2019s Attorney, of Salem (Norbert J. Goetten, Stephen E. Norris, and Sharon Shanahan, all of State\u2019s Attorneys Appellate Frosecutor\u2019s Office, of counsel), for the Feople." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "In re S.G. et al., Minors (The People of the State of Illinois, Petitioner-Appellee, v. T.O., Respondent-Appellant).\nFifth District\nNo. 5\u201402\u20140594\nOpinion filed April 7, 2004.\nMatthew S. Wilzbach, of Wilzbach & Wilzbach, of Salem, for appellant.\nJames Creason, State\u2019s Attorney, of Salem (Norbert J. Goetten, Stephen E. Norris, and Sharon Shanahan, all of State\u2019s Attorneys Appellate Frosecutor\u2019s Office, of counsel), for the Feople." }, "file_name": "0476-01", "first_page_order": 494, "last_page_order": 500 }