The First District affirmed three predatory criminal sexual assault convictions as supported by sufficient evidence, but remanded for a proper preliminary Krankel inquiry where the circuit court failed to adequately examine the defendant’s pro se claims of ineffective assistance.
The First District reverses denial of a successive postconviction petition, finding that an eyewitness’s published book containing exculpatory statements constitutes new evidence supporting an actual-innocence claim.
The First District rejects an ineffective assistance claim on remand from the Supreme Court, finding no prejudice where the uncalled alibi witness’s testimony would have contradicted the existing alibi.
The First District holds that a circuit court must grant a certificate of innocence when a petitioner has obtained postconviction relief on an actual-innocence claim and the State has dismissed all charges.
The First District affirms attempted murder and armed habitual criminal convictions, finding the evidence sufficient and counsel not ineffective for failing to challenge certain testimony.
The First District affirms a financial exploitation of elderly person conviction, rejecting challenges to evidence sufficiency, confrontation clause compliance, and counsel effectiveness.
The First District reverses dismissal of a successive postconviction petition by a defendant sentenced to mandatory life at age 18, finding evolving neuroscience on young-adult brain development constitutes cause for the new claim.
The First District affirms suppression of evidence where the State could not show reasonable articulable suspicion beyond mere firearm possession to justify a Terry stop, applying People v. Aguilar.