People v. Cordell

Chief Justice Thomas and Justices Freeman, Fitzgerald, Kilbride, Garman, and Karmeier concurred in the judgment and opinion.

OPINION

Defendant Ronnie Cordell was convicted in the circuit court of Kankakee County of retail theft (720 ILCS 5/16A — 3(a) (West 2002)) and criminal trespass to real property (720 ILCS 5/21 — 3(a)(2) (West 2002)). On appeal, the appellate court reversed the convictions, finding that defendant’s trial counsel was constitutionally ineffective because she failed to argue that defendant’s statutory right to a speedy trial had been violated. No. 3 — 03— 1077 (unpublished…