People v. Vanderwerff

Defendant, Gary B. Vanderwerff, was charged by complaint with two counts of battery. Following a bench trial in the circuit court of Cook County, the defendant was found guilty on both counts and sentenced to a term of 270 days in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Defendant appeals, contending: (1) that he did not knowingly and intelligently waive his Sixth Amendment right to counsel; (2) that the State committed prejudicial error by referring to defendant’s previous record prior to trial; (3) that the trial court’s bias, impatience and hostility toward the defendant and his witness…