People v. Perkins

Defendant, Jahmal Perkins, appeals from the dismissal of his petition under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Act) (725 ILCS 5/122 — 1 et seq. (West 2002)). He contends that the assistance of counsel he received was less than the reasonable assistance due him under the Act. Specifically, he asserts that postconviction counsel’s defense of his petition against the State’s motion to dismiss for untimeliness showed that counsel was unfamiliar with the applicable legal principles. The State responds that defendant has presented nothing to suggest that he could have successfully defended against…