People v. Caldwell

The defendant was charged with murder. He was represented by appointed counsel and pleaded guilty as charged in the circuit court of Cook County. No appeal was taken. The case is now before this court on appeal from the dismissal by that court of the defendant’s petition under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1969, ch. 38, par. 122—1 et seq.) without an evidentiary hearing. The defendant was represented by the Public Defender at the hearing on the State’s motion to dismiss the petition. His counsel at that time informed the court that he had discussed the case with the…