People v. Waldron

The appellate court found respondent, Michael M. Melius, the public defender of Lake County, guilty of indirect criminal contempt for failing to file briefs in two criminal appeals. We allowed his petition for leave to appeal (103 Ill. 2d R. 315(a)).

In November 1982, respondent was appointed by the appellate court to represent defendants, Richard Mangioni and John E. Waldron, in their respective appeals. Briefs for both appellants were due in February 1983. On May 3, 1983, respondent moved unsuccessfully for leave to withdraw as appellate counsel for Mangioni and 16 other defendants, not…