                                                                              FIFTH DIVISION
                                                                              August 3, 2007




No. 1-05-2083

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,                             )    Appeal from the
                                                                 )    Circuit Court of
                Plaintiff-Appellee,                              )    Cook County
                                                                 )
       v.                                                        )
                                                                 )
SHARON MARSHALL,                                                 )    Honorable
                                                                 )    Michael P. Toomin,
                Defendant-Appellant.                             )    Judge Presiding.


       JUSTICE GALLAGHER delivered the opinion of the court:

       Defendant Sharon Marshall appeals from the dismissal of her postconviction petition

after an evidentiary hearing. Defendant first contends that the circuit court erred in rejecting her

argument that her attorney was ineffective in failing to interview or present the testimony of

Jimmie Terrell, her codefendant and former husband, at trial. She also argues that this court

should reverse the dismissal of her postconviction petition because the attorneys who represented

her at the third-stage of postconviction review did not comply with Illinois Supreme Court Rule

651(c) (134 Ill. 2d R. 651(c)), even though her counsel at the second stage of proceedings filed a

certificate in accordance with the rule. For the reasons stated below, we affirm.
1-05-2083

                                      PROCEDURAL HISTORY

                                I. Trial and Postconviction Proceedings

         In 1994, a jury convicted defendant of six counts of first-degree murder and one count of

arson in connection with a December 1979 apartment building fire that killed six people.

Defendant was sentenced to concurrent sentences of 60 years for each murder and 7 years for

arson. Terrell was convicted in 1981, and both his appeal to this court and his postconviction

petitions were unsuccessful. Terrell denied involvement in the crimes and presented an alibi

defense at his trial.

         At defendant’s trial, Faith Byas testified that she and defendant were friends. Byas was

about 16 years old at the time of the offense, and defendant was in her early twenties. Byas said

Terrell planned the fire to harm a man with whom Terrell had a disagreement.1 Defendant,

Terrell and Byas collected a gas can, matches and a gun. Byas said defendant directed her where

to find the gas can, and defendant located the weapon.

         Defendant drove the three of them to an apartment building, where they knocked at the

intended victim’s door. When no one answered, they left and returned to the building 15 or 20

minutes later, when Terrell set the fire. Byas testified that someone saw the three of them as they

fled the building. Another prosecution witness testified that she saw a man and two women run

out of the apartment building. Byas testified that the next day, defendant told her that if

questioned by police about the fire, they should say “some Puerto Rican boys” set it. The


         1
             Byas testified against defendant and Terrell in exchange for a plea agreement with the

State.

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defense presented no witnesses. We affirmed defendant’s convictions and sentence on direct

appeal. People v. Marshall, No. 1-94-1853 (1996) (unpublished order under Supreme Court

Rule 23).

        In March 1997, defendant sought relief under the Postconviction Hearing Act (the Act)

(725 ILCS 5/122-1 et seq. (West 1996)), asserting that her trial counsel was ineffective for failing

to present evidence that would have established her innocence. The trial court dismissed

defendant’s petition as frivolous and patently without merit. This court reversed and remanded

for second-stage postconviction proceedings because the trial court did not rule on the petition

within 90 days of filing. People v. Marshall, No. 1-97-3011 (1998) (unpublished order under

Supreme Court Rule 23).

        On remand, postconviction counsel was appointed for defendant. Counsel amended the

petition to assert that trial counsel was ineffective for failing to present Terrell as a witness.

Counsel attached an affidavit of Terrell, who attested that, had he been called to testify in

defendant’s case, he would have stated that defendant was not involved in the fire and that he

took “the full responsibility on behalf of this matter.” The trial court granted the State’s motion

to dismiss defendant’s postconviction claims, stating that Terrell’s alibi defense at his trial

contradicted the theory that he could credibly exculpate defendant by now claiming he set the

fire.

        Defendant appealed the dismissal of her petition at the second stage of postconviction

relief, asserting that an evidentiary hearing was required to allow the trial court to determine

Terrell’s credibility. This court agreed, concluding that because the defense presented no


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witnesses at trial, an evidentiary hearing was necessary to allow defense counsel to offer his

reasoning for not calling Terrell as a witness at defendant’s trial and to allow the State to cross-

examine Terrell regarding his attestation that although defendant drove them to the apartment

building, defendant was not involved in setting the fire. Therefore, this court reversed the

dismissal of defendant’s petition and remanded for an evidentiary hearing on defendant’s claim

that her trial attorney was ineffective, stating that “an evidentiary hearing would *** provide the

trial court with sufficient facts to determine whether defendant received ineffective assistance of

counsel.” People v. Marshall, No. 1-01-3246, slip op. at 12 (2004) (unpublished order under

Supreme Court Rule 23).



                                      II. Evidentiary Hearing

       At the evidentiary hearing, Terrell testified that he was serving prison time for the

murders and arson. Terrell recanted his alibi defense, testifying instead that defendant drove him

and Byas to the apartment building and then waited in the car while he and Byas started the fire.

Terrell said he did not tell defendant to wait for them. Terrell admitted lying at his own trial but

stated that he was now telling the truth because defendant did not participate in the crimes. He

said defendant did not ask why they were going to the apartment building.

       Defendant’s brother, Hoyle Marshall, and defendant’s trial counsel, Harry Weber, also

testified. Marshall testified that when he and other family members met with Weber to retain

him to represent defendant, Weber said he would contact Terrell. However, Weber testified that

none of defendant’s family members told him to contact or interview Terrell. Weber stated that


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after reviewing a transcript of Terrell’s trial, he would “never” have called Terrell as a witness

because Terrell was “less than credible *** and he would not be believed,” and Terrell’s alibi

testimony would not have helped defendant’s case.

       At the close of testimony in the evidentiary hearing, the trial court concluded that

Weber’s decision not to present Terrell as a witness was reasonable because if Terrell’s original

alibi defense was true, Terrell would not have been able to credibly attest to defendant’s

participation in the crimes. The court further stated that had Terrell testified, as stated in his

affidavit, that he committed the offenses with Byas and without defendant’s direct involvement,

Terrell would have been impeached by his trial testimony that he was not involved in the fire.

Therefore, the court determined, it could not conclude that the outcome of defendant’s trial

would have been different had Terrell testified, and defendant failed to prove a substantial denial

of her constitutional rights. The court dismissed defendant’s postconviction petition.



                                             ANALYSIS

       A postconviction petition is a collateral attack on a prior conviction and sentence and

therefore is limited to constitutional matters that either were not or could not have been

previously adjudicated; it is not a substitute for a direct appeal. People v. Rissley, 206 Ill. 2d 403,

411-12, 795 N.E.2d 174, 178-79 (2003). If a defendant’s postconviction petition is not

summarily dismissed at the first stage, counsel may be appointed at the second stage to represent

defendant and amend his or her postconviction claims. 725 ILCS 5/122-2.1 (West 2004). Fact-

finding and credibility determinations are to be made at the third stage of postconviction


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proceedings, i.e., at an evidentiary hearing. People v. Coleman, 183 Ill. 2d 366, 385, 701 N.E.2d

1063, 1073-74 (1998).



                                 I. Effectiveness of Trial Counsel

       Defendant contends that the trial court erred in holding that her trial attorney provided

effective assistance. She asserts Weber was ineffective because he did not interview Terrell and

present his testimony at her trial. Her essential position is that Terrell’s testimony in her defense

would have been better than Weber’s decision to present no witnesses.

       To support a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a defendant must show that

counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard of reasonableness and, furthermore, that

counsel’s actions resulted in prejudice to the defendant. Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668,

687, 80 L. Ed. 2d 674, 693, 104 S. Ct. 2052, 2064 (1984). It is the defendant’s burden to

affirmatively prove prejudice. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 693, 80 L. Ed. 2d at 697, 104 S. Ct. at

2067. In evaluating sufficient prejudice, “[t]he defendant must show that there is a reasonable

probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have

been different. A reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in

the outcome.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 80 L. Ed. 2d at 698, 104 S. Ct. at 2068.

       When a postconviction petition is advanced to the third stage, and when such fact-finding

and credibility determinations are involved (as opposed to a third-stage proceeding where no new

evidence is presented and the issues are purely ones of law), this court will not reverse the

decision of the trial court unless it is manifestly erroneous. People v. Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d 458,


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473, 861 N.E.2d 999, 1008 (2006). Manifest error is error that is clearly evident, plain and

indisputable. People v. Morgan, 212 Ill. 2d 148, 155, 817 N.E.2d 524, 528 (2004).

        Defendant first argues that the trial court applied an incorrect standard at the evidentiary

hearing. Defendant asserts that she needed to establish that she did not receive a fair trial due to

counsel’s performance, not that she would have been acquitted had the alleged error not been

made. Indeed, our supreme court has observed that the prejudice component of Strickland

“entails more than an ‘outcome-determinative’ test”; rather, “[t]he defendant must show that

counsel’s deficient performance rendered the result of the trial unreliable or the proceeding

fundamentally unfair.” People v. Richardson, 189 Ill. 2d 401, 411, 727 N.E.2d 362, 369 (2000).

Moreover, the United States Supreme Court stated in Strickland that “[t]he result of a proceeding

can be rendered unreliable, and hence the proceeding itself unfair, even if the errors of counsel

cannot be shown by a preponderance of the evidence to have determined the outcome.”

Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694, 80 L. Ed. 2d at 698, 104 S. Ct. at 2068. Therefore, defendant must

show that she was denied a fair trial due to her counsel’s alleged ineffectiveness, not that the

result of her trial was affected.

        We next note, however, that defendant’s arguments on the prejudice/unfairness prong of

Strickland are irrelevant unless we also conclude that her trial counsel’s performance fell below

an objective standard of reasonableness. Defendant contends that Weber’s decision not to

present Terrell’s testimony was unsound. Defendant acknowledges that strategic decisions such

as the presentation of particular witnesses are generally unchallengeable. “Counsel’s decision

whether to present a particular witness is generally a strategic choice which cannot support a


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claim of ineffective assistance of counsel.” Richardson, 189 Ill. 2d at 414, 727 N.E.2d at 370.

         Defendant first asserts that Weber could not have made an informed decision to exclude

Terrell as a witness without interviewing Terrell. Weber and defendant’s brother offered

conflicting accounts about whether Weber was asked to interview Terrell and, furthermore,

whether he promised to do so. It is true that “[t]he failure to investigate alone can constitute

ineffective assistance if it was prejudicial and did not conform to minimal professional

standards.” People v. Kelley, 304 Ill. App. 3d 628, 635, 710 N.E.2d 163, 169 (1999). Defendant

claims that Weber was required to speak to Terrell to determine if his testimony would be of

value.

         The failure to interview a known witness can indicate incompetence if the testimony of

the witness may exonerate defendant. People v. Steidl, 177 Ill. 2d 239, 256, 685 N.E.2d 1335,

1343 (1997). However, whether a failure to investigate the testimony of a potential witness

amounts to incompetence depends on the value of the evidence to the case. Steidl, 177 Ill. 2d at

256, 685 N.E.2d at 1343. Here, although Weber did not interview Terrell, the attorney was

aware of the substance of the testimony that Terrell would have offered. Weber reviewed

Terrell’s testimony at his own trial and concluded that Terrell’s alibi defense contradicted his

later statement that he committed the offense with Faith Byas while defendant waited in the car,

thus opening the door to substantial impeachment.2 If Terrell had testified that defendant drove


         2
             Relying upon the judge’s observation at her trial that Weber was “unprepared” and

“fumbling” through the transcript of Terrell’s trial during his cross-examination of Byas,

defendant argues that Weber was not sufficiently familiar with Terrell’s account of the events

                                                  8
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them to the building but remained in the car while he and Byas entered the building to set the

fires, the State undoubtedly then would have impeached Terrell with his prior alibi defense,

therefore weakening the effect of Terrell’s testimony. Weber reasonably determined that

presenting Terrell’s potential testimony would not further defendant’s case. See People v. Guest,

166 Ill. 2d 381, 400, 655 N.E.2d 873, 882 (1995) (counsel may exercise discretion and

reasonably decline to call a witness if testimony would be harmful to defendant, e.g., subject to

damaging impeachment).

       Defendant nevertheless argues that she could not have been convicted without Byas’s

testimony, which she contends was bolstered by the absence of any other account. She asserts

that Terrell’s testimony that he and Byas alone set the fire would have challenged Byas’s

otherwise uncontradicted testimony that defendant directly participated in setting the fire. Byas

testified in exchange for a plea agreement, a fact that was disclosed to the jury. See People v.

Joe, 207 Ill. App. 3d 1079, 1082, 566 N.E.2d 801, 805 (1991) (testimony of accomplice should

be viewed with suspicion by trier of fact). Moreover, the record establishes that Weber cross-

examined Byas at defendant’s trial, and, thus, the credibility of Byas’s version of events did not


leading to the fire. However, Weber’s use of the transcript of Terrell’s trial in cross-examining

Byas was related to Byas’s testimony at the earlier trial, not Terrell’s testimony. Additionally,

we do not read the record to indicate that Weber lacked the requisite knowledge of Terrell’s

testimony at his trial, particularly in light of Weber’s statement at the evidentiary hearing that he

reviewed Terrell’s trial transcript before deciding not to call him as a witness at defendant’s trial.



                                                  9
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go unquestioned.

       Still, defendant contends that Weber should have at least presented Terrell’s testimony

and allowed the trier of fact to determine his credibility. Defendant claims that even diminished

by impeachment, Terrell’s credibility would be equal to that of Byas, who originally denied

participating in the crime and then agreed to testify for the State against Terrell and defendant.

However, given the potential for substantial impeachment, we cannot conclude that the jury at

defendant’s trial clearly would have found Terrell’s testimony more believable than that of Byas.

       Defendant cites People v. Gibson, 244 Ill. App. 3d 700, 612 N.E.2d 1372 (1993), to

support her assertion that her counsel’s presentation of Terrell’s testimony could have lessened

the effect of Byas’s account. However, we find Gibson more pertinent for its holding that

questions such as these that explore an attorney’s trial strategy are best examined after an

evidentiary hearing, as occurred there. See Gibson, 244 Ill. App. 3d at 704, 612 N.E.2d at 1374-

75 (“[o]nce evidence is heard on the subject, the circuit court will be in a better position to

determine whether a Strickland deprivation of counsel occurred”). Here, that has been already

done, and the trial court’s ruling based on the evidence that was presented at that hearing was not

manifestly erroneous.

       In summary, defendant’s challenge to the reasonableness of her trial counsel’s actions is

unavailing. Given the contradictions in Terrell’s accounts and the potential for substantial

impeachment, the benefit that defendant would have received had Weber interviewed Terrell and

presented his testimony at defendant’s trial was highly dubious. Terrell’s trial testimony, as

shown by his transcript and reviewed by Weber, indicated to Weber that in order to assist


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defendant, Terrell would have to present a different version of the events that led to the fire than

the account to which he testified at his own trial. Weber did not need to interview Terrell to

reasonably conclude that Terrell would not offer credible testimony at defendant’s trial. Because

Weber’s decision was reasonable, defendant’s attempt to show counsel’s ineffectiveness has

failed. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697, 80 L. Ed. 2d at 699, 104 S. Ct. at 2069 (“there is no

reason for a court deciding an ineffective assistance claim *** even to address both components

of the inquiry if the defendant makes an insufficient showing on one”). Therefore, the trial

court’s determination that Weber’s decision did not violate Strickland was not manifestly

erroneous.

       Before considering defendant’s next main claim of error, we note defendant’s assertion

that the trial court misconstrued the purpose of an evidentiary hearing in a postconviction case.

She contends that the trial court erroneously suggested that it was not required to consider

defense counsel’s overall performance at trial to determine whether the decision not to call

Terrell as a witness constituted ineffective assistance.

       To review, this court remanded for an evidentiary hearing to allow the trial court to

consider, given that defense counsel presented no witnesses, whether counsel’s failure to call

Terrell as a witness constituted trial strategy. Defendant points to rulings at the evidentiary

hearing in which the court sustained objections to postconviction counsel’s questioning of trial

attorney Weber. Defendant’s postconviction counsel elicited testimony from Weber that Weber

had presented no defense witnesses at trial. The trial court sustained the State’s relevance

objection to that testimony.


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       Postconviction counsel asserted that the “type of defense that [Weber] presented is

entirely relevant to ineffective assistance of counsel,” and the exchange continued:

               “MR. LANDRUM [postconviction counsel]: Your Honor, I think ***

       what happened at trial and [Weber’s] subsequent decision as to whether or not to

       deal with Jimmy Terrell, I think the type of defense that he presented is entirely

       relevant to ineffective assistance of counsel.

               THE COURT: That’s not within the mandate of the Appellate Court. As

       [Assistant State’s Attorney] Shlifka indicated today, and reminded me, *** the

       mandate of the court dealt with his alleged incompetence and in not calling Jimmy

       [sic] Terrell, not investigating the case as far as Jimmy [sic] Terrell was

       concerned.      MR. LANDRUM: And I think that should be taken in the context

       of what truly transpired at the trial.

               For instance, he had no witnesses, and if he had the chance to interview

       somebody like Jimmy [sic] Terrell who could have provided exculpatory

       testimony, I think it’s entirely relevant as to what type of evidence he did present.

               THE COURT: Whatever type of defense he submitted is a matter of record.”

       Defendant argues that the trial court’s ruling on the relevance objection prevented her

postconviction counsel from fully cross-examining Weber about his representation.

       The question was intended to highlight that Weber presented no witnesses at defendant’s

trial, of which the court was clearly aware, given that the same judge also presided over

defendant’s trial, and also given the prior analysis of this court in remanding for the evidentiary


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hearing. The above-quoted colloquy indicates that the trial court correctly considered the focus

of the hearing to be whether Weber was ineffective in failing to call Terrell as a witness. The

trial court was correct in stating that its task was to examine Weber’s decision not to call Terrell,

as opposed to reexamining the entire defense strategy in the trial. Thus, the record does not

support defendant’s claim that the trial court misunderstood the nature of the evidentiary hearing.



            II. Postconviction Counsel’s Compliance with Supreme Court Rule 651(c)

       Defendant’s remaining contention on appeal is that this court should reverse the dismissal

of her postconviction petition because the attorneys who were appointed to represent her at the

evidentiary hearing did not comply with Supreme Court Rule 651(c), even though second-stage

counsel already had met the rule’s requirements.

       Because no constitutional right to counsel exists in postconviction proceedings, such a

right of a defendant is wholly statutory and is defined in the Postconviction Hearing Act (725

ILCS 5/122-1 et seq. (West 2004)), which allows limited review of constitutional claims that

were not presented at trial. People v. Greer, 212 Ill. 2d 192, 203, 817 N.E.2d 511, 518 (2004).

The Act provides for a process for consideration of the defendant’s petition that can include as

many as three stages. If the petition is not summarily dismissed at the first stage, as occurred

here, or if more than 90 days elapse between a petition’s filing and its dismissal, the petition

moves to the second stage of postconviction proceedings, where counsel is appointed to represent

the defendant and amend his or her postconviction claims. 725 ILCS 5/122-2.1 (West 2004).

       Rule 651(c) states, in pertinent part:


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       “The record *** shall contain a showing, which may be made by the certificate of

       petitioner’s attorney, that the attorney has consulted with petitioner either by mail

       or in person to ascertain his contentions of deprivation of constitutional rights, has

       examined the record of the proceedings at the trial, and has made any amendments

       to the petitions filed pro se that are necessary for an adequate presentation of

       petitioner’s contentions.” 134 Ill. 2d R. 651(c).

       Therefore, counsel appointed at the second stage of a postconviction proceeding is

required to consult with the defendant, either in person or by mail, examine the trial record, and

amend the defendant’s pro se petition if necessary to properly present the defendant’s

postconviction claims of constitutional deprivation. 134 Ill. 2d R. 651(c). The Illinois Supreme

Court amended Rule 651(c) to set out those specific duties of second-stage postconviction

counsel to reflect the court’s decisions in People v. Slaughter, 39 Ill. 2d 278, 235 N.E.2d 566

(1968), People v. Garrison, 43 Ill. 2d 121, 251 N.E.2d 200 (1969), and People v. Jones, 43 Ill. 2d

160, 251 N.E.2d 218 (1969). See 134 Ill. 2d R. 651(c), Committee Comments. Those three

cases addressed the essential need for appointed counsel at the second-stage of postconviction

proceedings. As the supreme court noted in Slaughter, the Act “can not perform its function

unless the attorney appointed to represent an indigent petitioner ascertains the basis of his

complaints, shapes those complaints into appropriate legal form and presents them to the court.”

Slaughter, 39 Ill. 2d at 285, 235 N.E.2d at 569.

       Thus, Rule 651(c) is designed to ensure that a defendant receives the required reasonable

level of assistance from postconviction counsel. People v. Suarez, 224 Ill. 2d 37, 42, 862 N.E.2d


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977, 979 (2007). A filed Rule 651(c) certificate creates a presumption of compliance that can be

rebutted by the record. People v. Lander, 215 Ill. 2d 577, 584, 831 N.E.2d 596, 600 (2005).

        After second-stage counsel has consulted with the defendant, examined the trial court

record and amended the petition if necessary, the State can move to dismiss the petition. 725

ILCS 5/122-4, 122-5 (West 2004). If the petition makes a showing of a constitutional violation,

the petition proceeds to the third stage, at which the court conducts an evidentiary hearing. 725

ILCS 5/122-6 (West 2004). An evidentiary hearing is held only where the allegations of the

postconviction petition make a substantial showing that the defendant’s constitutional rights have

been violated. People v. Waldrop, 353 Ill. App. 3d 244, 249, 818 N.E.2d 888, 893 (2004).

        Here, defendant does not dispute that the counsel appointed to represent her at the second

stage of postconviction proceedings filed a certificate pursuant to Rule 651(c). Defendant

argues, however, that the attorneys who were subsequently appointed to represent her at the third

stage of postconviction proceedings (the evidentiary hearing) also were required to file a Rule

651(c) certificate.

        Defendant contends that for an appointed attorney to effectively represent a client at the

third stage of postconviction proceedings, counsel must consult with the defendant and review

the trial court record, as the rule sets out. Defendant argues that Rule 651(c) “is void of utility” if

a postconviction attorney at each stage of proceedings is not required to file a Rule 651(c)

certificate or otherwise meet the rule’s requirements.

        The formality of filing a Rule 651(c) certificate has been considered harmless error where

the record establishes that appointed counsel met the rule’s requirements. See People v. Peoples,


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346 Ill. App. 3d 258, 262, 804 N.E.2d 577, 580 (2004). Thus, if the record shows that counsel

consulted with the defendant, examined the record and amended the petition to present the

defendant’s claims, the absence of a Rule 651(c) certificate in the record is not fatal. Peoples,

346 Ill. App. 3d at 262, 804 N.E.2d at 580. Defendant contends that in addition to not filing a

Rule 651(c) certificate, her third-stage counsel did not meet this rule of substantial compliance

because although her two appointed attorneys appeared in court with her, they did not consult

with her to ascertain her postconviction contentions. However, before considering that

allegation, it first must be determined if third-stage counsel’s compliance with Rule 651(c) is

required when second-stage counsel has already filed a certificate pursuant to the rule.

       In asserting that compliance with Rule 651(c) is required of counsel in each stage of

postconviction proceedings, defendant relies upon People v. Rankins, 277 Ill. App. 3d 561, 564,

660 N.E.2d 1317, 1319 (1996), in which neither second-stage nor third-stage postconviction

counsel filed a Rule 651(c) certificate. The court in Rankins first found that the record did not

establish that second-stage counsel substantially complied with the rule’s requirements; counsel

did not examine the record or consult with the defendant. Rankins, 277 Ill. App. 3d at 564, 660

N.E.2d at 1319.

       The Rankins court then considered whether third-stage postconviction counsel met Rule

651(c)’s requirements of consulting with the defendant, examining the trial record and possibly

amending the defendant’s petition. Rankins, 277 Ill. App. 3d at 564-65, 660 N.E.2d at 1319-20.

The court concluded that third-stage counsel also did not file a Rule 651(c) certificate or

otherwise substantially comply with the rule, even though counsel reviewed the record. Rankins,


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277 Ill. App. 3d at 564-65, 660 N.E.2d at 1319-20. The court determined that counsel’s failure

to amend the petition did not constitute inadequate representation in the absence of the

defendant’s contentions of “any fatal omissions.” Rankins, 277 Ill. App. 3d at 564, 660 N.E.2d at

1319. However, the record did not establish that third-stage counsel spoke to the defendant

about his claims. Rankins, 277 Ill. App. 3d at 565, 660 N.E.2d at 1319-20.

       Pointing to the latter discussion, defendant asserts that Rankins demonstrates that third-

stage counsel must comply with Rule 651(c) to preserve the rule’s purpose. We disagree with

defendant that Rankins’ discussion of the third-stage attorney’s compliance with Rule 651(c) in

that case establishes that, in every postconviction case, an attorney representing a defendant at

the third stage of proceedings is required to meet the rule’s requirements when second-stage

counsel has already complied with the rule.

       The facts of Rankins are plainly distinguishable from those here. In Rankins, second-

stage counsel did not file a Rule 651(c) certificate, and the record did not show that counsel

substantially complied with the rule. Rankins, 277 Ill. App. 3d at 564, 660 N.E.2d at 1319. The

court in Rankins then considered whether third-stage counsel met the requirements of Rule

651(c). Therefore, Rankins’ discussion of third-stage counsel’s compliance with Rule 651(c)

followed its finding that second-stage counsel did not meet the rule’s requirements. In the case at

bar, it is undisputed that second-stage counsel filed a Rule 651(c) certificate.

       Defendant nevertheless argues that an attorney representing a defendant at each stage of

postconviction review must comply with Rule 651(c). She argues that if the court in Rankins

intended to hold that only second-stage counsel must comply with the rule, the court would have


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ended its analysis after determining that second-stage counsel did not do so in that case.

However, Rankins supports the conclusion that Rule 651(c)’s requirements must be met only

once and not, as defendant suggests, by attorneys representing a defendant at each stage of

postconviction proceedings. Rankins illustrates that one postconviction attorney must comply

with Rule 651(c), not that the process must be repeated at each level of postconviction

proceedings. We have found no authority, and defendant does not point us to any case, that relies

on Rankins for the proposition that attorneys at both the second and third stages of

postconviction review must comply with the rule.

       We note that although Rule 651(c) does not explicitly state at what stage of

postconviction proceedings the showing of compliance with its requirements must be made, the

rule’s purpose is to require appointed postconviction counsel to consult with the defendant to

ascertain his claims of constitutional deprivation. See People v. Lander, 215 Ill. 2d 577, 585,

831 N.E.2d 596, 601 (2005). The tasks set out in Rule 651(c) – consulting with the defendant,

examining the record and, if necessary, amending the petition to present the defendant’s claims –

are performed by counsel at the second stage of postconviction review so that the State can fully

review the defendant’s claims and determine if it will move to dismiss them. See People v.

Pendleton, 223 Ill. 2d 458, 472, 861 N.E.2d 999, 1007 (2006); see also People v. Fiedler, 303 Ill.

App. 3d 236, 238, 707 N.E.2d 1247, 1248 (1999) (citing to Rule 651(c) in referring to the duties

of second-stage postconviction counsel). If the State’s motion to dismiss the petition is denied,

the petition is deemed to make a substantial showing of a violation of constitutional rights and is

the subject of an evidentiary hearing. See 725 ILCS 5/122-6 (West 2004).


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       It therefore follows that Rule 651(c) applies to attorneys who represent defendants at the

second stage of postconviction review. Defendant’s position that her third-stage postconviction

counsel also must comply with Rule 651(c), even when the rule’s requirements have been met at

the previous stage, is illogical. An attorney at the evidentiary hearing stage must argue the merits

of the postconviction petitioner’s claims as presented in the petition following review by counsel

at the second stage. Third-stage counsel does not, as Rule 651(c) requires, examine the record or

amend the petition further. Counsel at the third stage of postconviction review argues the merits

of the petition as it is presented by second-stage counsel. Rule 651(c) does not require third-

stage counsel to duplicate the efforts of second-stage counsel. Indeed, second-stage counsel

would have already complied with Rule 651(c), and third-stage counsel could not attest to the

performance of those tasks by separate counsel.

       In conclusion, the court’s determination at the third stage of review of defendant’s

postconviction petition that defendant’s counsel was not ineffective in presenting the testimony

of Terrell at trial was not manifestly erroneous. Furthermore, Rule 651(c) applies to counsel at

the second stage of postconviction proceedings, and, here, it is undisputed that defendant’s

second-stage counsel met the rule’s requirements by filing a certificate.

       Accordingly, the dismissal of defendant’s postconviction petition is affirmed.

       Affirmed.

       O'BRIEN, P.J., and O'MARA FROSSARD, J., concur.




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