The PEOPLE v. Jordan

After trial by jury in the circuit court of Cook County, defendant, Oscar Jordan, was found guilty of the murder of Lawrence Waters and sentenced to a term of not less than 40 nor more than 60 years. He brings direct appeal contending that the failure to appoint counsel until 6 weeks after his arrest on a capital charge, leaving him unrepresented at the coroner’s inquest and the preliminary examination, transgressed his constitutional rights to assistance of counsel, due process and equal protection of the law. He also contends that the proof was insufficient to support a conviction of…