People v. House

Following a jury trial, defendant, James House, was convicted of first degree murder (720 ILCS 5/9—1(a)(1) (West 2000)) and sentenced to 75 years’ imprisonment. On appeal, defendant contends that: (1) the trial court abused its discretion when it disqualified defendant’s privately retained counsel, Mike Fulton, because a potential conflict presented by the fact that he had also represented both of the State’s eyewitnesses was insufficient to overcome the presumption in favor of allowing defendant to be represented by the counsel of his choice; and (2) the trial court abused its discretion in…