People v. Williams

Defendant was found guilty of armed robbery by a jury in Cook County and was sentenced to a term of not less than 7 nor more than 12 years. The appellate court affirmed with one justice dissenting (14 Ill. App. 3d 572), and we granted leave to appeal. The defendant contends that he was denied due process of law by being required to choose between the right to effective assistance of counsel and the right to a trial within 120 days. Ill. Rev. Stat. 1971, ch. 38, par. 103-5.

The defendant was arrested on September 21, 1970. On January 18, 1971, the 119th day of his confinement, he was arraigned…