The People v. Couvion

Defendant was adjudged a sexually dangerous person under the provisions of section 8 of the act of 1933 in relation to the Illinois State Penitentiary (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1959, chap. 108, par. 112,) after a bench trial in the circuit court of Randolph County, and was committed to the custody of the Director of Public Safety. On this writ of error he contends the failure of the trial court, sua sponte, to determine his indigence and provide him with counsel deprived him of due process of law under the fourteenth amendment to the constitution of the United States, and also contravenes section 9 of…