The People v. Milani

Defendant, Joseph H. Milani, was adjudged guilty of murder and sentenced to 150 years imprisonment following his guilty plea entered midway in a jury trial in the Williamson County circuit court. Our original affirmance (34 Ill.2d 524) of the pro se appeal was reversed by the United State Supreme Court (Milani v. Illinois, 386 U.S. 12, 17 L. Ed. 2d 702, 87 S. Ct. 874) citing Douglas v. California, 372 U.S. 353, 9 L. Ed. 2d 811, 83 S. Ct. 814. In view of the Douglas rule that an indigent is constitutionally entitled to the appointment of counsel in a nondiscretionary appeal, we no longer…