People v. Hudson

Defendant Michael Hudson was convicted of forgery in the Circuit Court of Madison County following a jury trial at which he represented himself. On appeal, defendant contends that his waiver of counsel was invalid and that various trial errors occurred. We find that reversible error occurred in the admission of prior unsworn consistent statements by the State’s witnesses, most of whom were, by their own testimony, accomplices of defendant.

Defendant was represented at his arraignment by an assistant public defender. On the morning of trial, the public defender informed the court of a potential…