IL HB3191

Court may order that a defendant representing themselves pro se (without counsel) in sexual assault or sexual abuse cases must question the victim through a court-appointed attorney rather than directly.

Court can only issue such an order upon motion by the prosecuting attorney and must find that direct questioning by the defendant would cause the victim serious emotional or mental distress.

Applies to prosecutions for criminal sexual assault, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, aggravated criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual abuse, and aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Defendant retains the right to communicate with the court-appointed attorney who will conduct the questioning.

Does not prevent the victim and defendant from being present in the courtroom at the same time for purposes of defendant identification.