People v. De Long - Appellate Court Opinion

The Illinois Appellate Court, Fifth District, affirmed the trial court's sua sponte denial of Aaron Michael De Long's pro se motion for leave to file a successive postconviction petition. The appellate court held that the defendant could not challenge his postplea counsel's alleged ineffectiveness after voluntarily withdrawing his direct appeal. The court also found that the trial court properly reconsidered its prior order advancing the petition to the second stage of postconviction proceedings, as the requisite cause and prejudice finding had not been made.

This decision clarifies that defendants who voluntarily withdraw their direct appeals forfeit the ability to later challenge their postplea counsel's effectiveness in a successive postconviction petition. Legal professionals and criminal defendants involved in postconviction proceedings in Illinois should note this limitation on challenging counsel's performance after appeal withdrawal. No specific compliance actions or deadlines are imposed by this ruling, as it addresses a specific case outcome.