The PEOPLE v. Ford

In a 1964 bench trial, petitioner, David E. Ford, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than five nor more than ten years. On appeal, his conviction was affirmed by the appellate court. (People v. Ford, 56 Ill. App. 2d 153.) Subsequently, on October 20, 1966, he filed a pro se petition pursuant to the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1965, chap. 38, pars. 122—1 et seq.), alleging certain violations of his constitutional rights. The State moved to dismiss this petition on the basis of its legal insufficiency. Following a…