People v. Lusby , 2018 IL App (3d) 150189 ( 2019 )

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Appellate Court Date: 2019.02.21
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People v. Lusby, 2018 IL App (3d) 150189
Appellate Court THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, Plaintiff-Appellee, v.
Caption ASHANTI LUSBY, Defendant-Appellant.
District & No. Third District
Docket No. 3-15-0189
Filed August 21, 2018
Decision Under Appeal from the Circuit Court of Will County, No. 01-CF-664; the
Review Hon. David Martin Carlson, Judge, presiding.
Judgment Reversed and remanded.
Counsel on Michael J. Pelletier, Patricia Mysza, and Deborah Nall, of State
Appeal Appellate Defender’s Office, of Chicago, for appellant.
James W. Glasgow, State’s Attorney, of Joliet (Patrick Delfino,
Lawrence M. Bauer, and Gary F. Gnidovec, of State’s Attorneys
Appellate Prosecutor’s Office, of counsel), for the People.
Panel JUSTICE McDADE delivered the judgment of the court, with
opinion.
Justice O’Brien concurred in the judgment and opinion.
Presiding Justice Carter dissented, with opinion.
OPINION
¶1 Petitioner Ashanti Lusby was convicted of first degree murder, aggravated criminal
sexual assault, and home invasion. He was 16 years old at the time the offenses occurred. He
filed a direct appeal and, subsequently, a pro se postconviction petition, which were both
denied by this court. He later filed a motion for leave to file a successive postconviction
petition, arguing that his de facto life sentence violated his eighth amendment rights because
the trial court did not consider his age and its attendant characteristics in accordance with
Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. 460 (2012). The State requested that the trial court allow it to
file objections to Lusby’s motion, which the court granted. The State also argued its
objections before the court. Neither Lusby nor his defense attorney was present for the
State’s arguments. The trial court denied Lusby’s motion and he appealed, arguing that
(1) the trial court erred when it denied his motion for leave to file a successive postconviction
petition, (2) the trial court erred when it allowed the State to file and argue objections to his
motion, and (3) he is entitled to a new judge on remand. We reverse and remand this case for
a new sentencing hearing.
¶2 FACTS
¶3 On February 9, 1996, a woman was found dead in her home. She had multiple rectal and
vaginal lacerations, knife wounds to her neck, and a gunshot wound above her right eye.
Lusby, who was 16 years old at the time of the offense, was charged in a 15-count indictment
for first degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and home invasion for the events
that occurred on February 9.
¶4 The jury found Lusby guilty of all 15 charges. In October 2002, Lusby filed a motion for
a new trial, which the trial court denied. In March 2003, a sentencing hearing was held. A
presentence investigation report (PSI) was submitted to the court. The report stated that
Lusby was born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 11, 1979. He moved to Joliet, Illinois, when he
was 10 years old. He went back to Chicago for one year when he was 14 years old but
eventually returned to Joliet. Lusby was single and had two children. He received his GED in
the Illinois Youth Center. The last grade he completed was the tenth grade because he was
expelled for “gang banging.” He had used marijuana, phencyclidine (PCP), and alcohol in the
past and had used marijuana every day but denied that he was currently using any drugs or
alcohol. He claims that he completed drug treatment, but this could not be confirmed. He did
not have any current mental health issues. Lusby had been convicted of the following
offenses: (1) 1994 aggravated discharge of a firearm (juvenile), (2) 1998 robbery, (3) 2001
resisting a peace officer, and (4) 2001 aggravated battery. The State noted that Lusby also
had a 1998 misdemeanor conviction for attempting to obstruct justice. Lusby’s probation had
been revoked on the robbery conviction in March 2000. Lusby stated that he had a good
relationship with his mother and father and that they visited him often in jail, although
detention facility records show that Lusby’s father never visited him. He has two sisters, both
of whom have theft convictions. The probation officer recommended that “defendant may
benefit from counseling to control his violent tendencies.” The State attached 21 victim
impact letters as an addendum to the PSI. Lusby objected, arguing that the letters were
prejudicial. The trial court stated, “I will base the decision on the facts of the case and not on
these letters.”
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¶5 The State presented two witnesses at the sentencing hearing. Robert Miller testified that,
in July 2001, he was an inmate in the Will County jail. While Miller was using the phone,
Lusby approached Miller, put his hand on the receiver, and stated Miller had cut into the line
waiting to use the phone. Miller and Lusby were arguing when a deputy interjected, stating
that Miller did not cut and commanding Lusby to wait in line. After Miller completed his
call, he got into another altercation with Lusby. Lusby “called him into the gym,” and Miller
followed. Once there, Lusby hit Miller in the face causing Miller a broken bone under his left
eye, a broken nose, and a cut on his lip requiring three stitches. Jean Happ testified
concerning her victim impact statement, which was admitted into evidence. Defense counsel
did not present any evidence or witnesses.
¶6 Ultimately, Lusby’s 15 convictions were reduced to three: one count for first degree
murder, one for aggravated sexual assault, and one for home invasion. The State requested
that the other first degree murder counts (I, III through XIII) merge with count II (first degree
murder for intentional killing with exceptional brutal and heinous behavior indicative of
wanton cruelty). The State noted that the trial court may enhance Lusby’s sentence on count
II to a minimum of 60 years and a maximum of 100 years pursuant to section 5-8-2 of the
Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5/5-8-2 (West 2002)). The State also asked the court
to merge the other aggravated sexual assault convictions (counts IX, XI, XII) with count X
(aggravated sexual assault) and the home invasion convictions in counts XIV and XV with
count XIII (home invasion). It stated that the trial court may sentence Lusby to a maximum
of 30 years on counts X and XIII and that both counts are to run consecutively to the first
degree murder charge.
¶7 During the trial court’s oral pronouncement, it stated:
“THE COURT: All right. Well, this is a case that is a very difficult case from the
standpoint of the facts of the injuries and of the method of murder of the victim. It
certain—certainly the defendant’s age is a factor at the very least to the extent that he
is not eligible for the imposition of capital punishment based solely because of his
age, because but for his age at under the age of 18, certainly this—these are the type
of things, let me put it that way, that I have seen that all the attorneys that are in this
trial have seen as facts that would—that could be considered capital punishment
activities.
But I cannot, I cannot ignore the fact that Miss Happ was terrorized and sexually
assaulted and humiliated and executed in her own home, and this was clearly a
depraved act by you, Mr. Lusby, and it shows absolutely no respect for human life. It
is ironic to me I guess that this Miss Happ was working to provide a positive
influence on children in the area and the area that you lived in and even children that
were—would be yours or your nieces or nephews or other family members might
have been influenced positively by this woman, but your actions saw that didn’t
happen.
So it is very difficult for me to consider any leniency in this case. It is very
difficult for me to see any factors in mitigation. I have gone through the section on
mitigation. There are no factors in mitigation that apply.
I have gone through the factors in aggravation and those factors there are many
that apply, and I sincerely believe that the appropriate sentence is a sentence that will
see that this does not occur outside of the Department of Corrections again. This is a
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choice that you made at a young age and I know that choices, youthful choices can
be—are not, you know, sometimes are [sic] sometimes in very very poor judgment,
but this is not one that can be taken back, and this is not one that can be considered
minor, and this is not one that can be considered for anything but setting your future
in the Department of Corrections.
From what I’ve seen here from everything that I have seen and heard in this trial
this is a life you chose, a life of carrying weapons, a life of showing no respect for
human life, and I am not at all uncomfortable in imposing the maximum sentence on
the murder of 100 years. The consecutive sentence on the other two Class X offenses
again the manner and method of this crime makes me convinced that it is not for me
to minimize it in any way, and as a consequence I will impose an additional
consecutive 30 years on each of these offenses. So that is the order of the Court.
Certainly you have every right to appeal the sentence.”
¶8 Thus, the court sentenced Lusby to 100 years’ imprisonment on the first degree murder
conviction to be followed by concurrent 30 year sentences for aggravated criminal sexual
assault and home invasion, totaling 130 years’ imprisonment. Lusby filed a motion to
reconsider, arguing that the trial court failed to consider Lusby’s age, potential for
rehabilitation, and potential to be restored to useful citizenship during sentencing. The trial
court denied the motion, stating:
“THE COURT: All right. I tink [sic] these motions are required prior to a
thorough appellate review. It’s always difficult for the Trial Judge because you
prepare yourself for sentencing like this, you sit down and you look at everything.
You look at the law and look at the sentencing Code, because it’s confusing, and you
try to fashion the sentence appropriate and consisten [sic] with the sentencing Code
and appropriate to the facts. I believe I felt comfortable with my sentence at the time.
I believe I followed the law as I understood it and took into account all the factors
both in aggravation and in mitigation that apply here. So show the motion to
reconsider sentence presented and argued and denied.”
¶9 Lusby filed a direct appeal to this court. People v. Lusby, 353 Ill. App. 3d 1109 (2004)
(table) (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23). This court affirmed the trial
court’s decision, and our supreme court denied Lusby’s petition for leave to appeal in March
2005. Id., appeal denied, 214 Ill. 2d 544 (2005).
¶ 10 In September 2005, Lusby filed a pro se postconviction petition. Lusby claimed that his
right to due process was violated when he was required to wear an electric stun belt in the
presence of the jury and that defense counsel rendered ineffective assistance of counsel when
it failed to object to the use of the belt. The trial court dismissed the petition, and Lusby
appealed. This court affirmed the trial court’s dismissal. People v. Lusby, 377 Ill. App. 3d
1156 (2007) (table) (unpublished order under Supreme Court Rule 23). Our supreme court
denied his petition for leave to appeal in September 2009. Id., appeal denied, 233 Ill. 2d 582
(2009).
¶ 11 In November 2014, Lusby filed a pro se motion for leave to file a successive
postconviction petition. In the motion, he argued that his de facto life sentence violated his
eighth amendment rights. He claimed that he had met the cause and prejudice requirements
to file a successive postconviction petition under section 122-1(f) of the Post-Conviction
Hearing Act (725 ILCS 5/122-1(f) (West 2014)) because (1) the ruling in Miller, 567 U.S.
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460, which established that a court must consider a juvenile’s age and its attendant
characteristics before sentencing him to mandatory life imprisonment, was issued after
Lusby’s trial and initial postconviction petition and (2) Lusby did not have an opportunity to
present mitigating evidence so the trial court could consider his age and the possible impact
of his age-related factors on his commission of the offense.
¶ 12 The State requested a 35-day extension to file objections to Lusby’s motion, which the
trial court allowed. In its objections, the State alleged that Miller did not apply to this case
because the Court in Miller addressed mandatory life sentences, not de facto life sentences. It
also argued that our supreme court in People v. Davis, 2014 IL 115595, ruled that Miller
does not apply to a discretionary life sentence. It further alleged that the court properly
considered all the evidence before making its findings.
¶ 13 In January 2015, without the presence of Lusby or his defense attorney, the State argued
its objections before the court, and the court denied Lusby’s petition, stating:
“THE COURT: All right[.] Show that I have reviewed all the pleadings, I have
reviewed the Court file, and I will find that the request for a second—I guess it’s a
second post-conviction petition to be filed is denied based upon the law[.]”
Lusby appealed.
¶ 14 ANALYSIS
¶ 15 I. Motion for Leave to File a Successive Postconviction Petition
¶ 16 Lusby argues that the trial court erred when it denied his motion for leave to file a
successive postconviction petition. Specifically, Lusby claims that he had met the requisite
cause and prejudice test to file a successive petition because (1) he could not assert his claim
until the Supreme Court’s decision in Miller, 567 U.S. 460, and our supreme court’s decision
in Davis, 2014 IL 115595, and (2) the trial court failed to consider his age and its attendant
characteristics during sentencing and, therefore, violated his eighth amendment rights.
¶ 17 Citing People v. Guerrero, 2012 IL 112020, ¶ 20, the State argues that the lack of
precedent on a particular position does not constitute “cause” because Lusby must raise any
issues to preserve it for review even when the law is unfavorable to his position. It further
claims that Lusby did not show “cause” because there were no external factors that impeded
Lusby’s ability to raise the claim during his initial postconviction petition, as he raised the
same argument in his motion to reconsider. Also, it contends that Lusby did not show
prejudice because (1) the record shows that the trial court considered his age during
sentencing; (2) regardless of whether the trial court considered Lusby’s age, his sentence
“reflects irreparable corruption” and the trial court properly sentenced him to 130 years; and
(3) Miller addresses mandatory life sentences whereas this case involves a de facto life
sentence.
¶ 18 Because the parties dispute whether Miller applies to this case, we first consider its
applicability. The eighth amendment prohibits the imposition of cruel and unusual
punishment and applies to the states through the fourteenth amendment. Davis, 2014 IL
115595, ¶ 18 (citing Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551, 560 (2005)). “The eighth amendment’s
ban on excessive sanctions flows from the basic principle that criminal punishment should be
graduated and proportioned to both the offender and the offense.” Id. “To determine whether
a punishment is so disproportionate as to be cruel and unusual, a court must look beyond
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history to the evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society.”
(Internal quotation marks omitted.) Id.
¶ 19 In Miller, the defendant was convicted of murder and sentenced to mandatory life
imprisonment without parole. The Supreme Court determined that a sentence of life without
parole for a juvenile who committed any offense, including homicide, without the court’s
consideration of the juvenile’s age or its attendant characteristics, violates the eighth
amendment. Miller, 567 U.S. at 489. Relying on Roper and Graham, the Court reasoned that
youth characteristics “diminish the penological justifications for imposing the harshest
sentences on juvenile offenders.” Id. at 472; see also Roper, 543 U.S. 551 (holding that the
eighth amendment bars capital punishment of juveniles); Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48
(2010) (finding that the eighth amendment prohibits a sentence of life without parole for
juveniles who commit nonhomicide offenses). It declined to consider whether the eighth
amendment requires a “categorical bar on life without parole for juveniles.” Miller, 567 U.S.
at 479. Instead, the Court found that a court has the ability to sentence a juvenile to life in
prison without parole but it must take into consideration “how children are different, and how
those differences counsel against irrevocably sentencing them to a lifetime in prison”
beforehand. Id. at 480.
¶ 20 Recently, our supreme court in People v. Holman, 2017 IL 120655, held that Miller
applies to cases when a defendant is sentenced to a discretionary life sentence. It reasoned
that a juvenile’s diminished culpability is “neither crime-nor sentence-specific” and that
discretionary life sentences for juveniles are “disproportionate and violate the eighth
amendment, unless the trial court considers youth and its attendant characteristics.” Id. ¶ 40.
¶ 21 Lusby’s 130-year sentence is a de facto life sentence. See People v. Smolley, 2018 IL
App (3d) 150577, ¶ 22 (15-year-old defendant’s 65-year sentence constituted de facto life
sentence); People v. Buffer, 2017 IL App (1st) 142931, ¶ 62 (16-year-old defendant’s 50-year
sentence constituted de facto life sentence); People v. Ortiz, 2016 IL App (1st) 133294, ¶ 24
(defendant’s 60-year sentence constituted de facto life sentence). Moreover, our supreme
court in Holman established that Miller is also applicable to a discretionary life sentence.
Therefore, we find that Miller applies in this case.
¶ 22 Next, we consider whether Lusby has met the cause and prejudice test although Miller
was decided after his trial and the filing of his initial postconviction petition. The
Post-Conviction Hearing Act allows the filing of only one postconviction petition without
leave of the court. 725 ILCS 5/122-1(f) (West 2016). “[A] defendant faces immense
procedural default hurdles when bringing a successive postconviction petition.” Davis, 2014
IL 115595, ¶ 14. Because it interferes with the finality of criminal litigation, these hurdles are
lowered only in limited circumstances. Id. “One such basis for relaxing the bar against
successive postconviction petitions is where a petitioner can establish ‘cause and prejudice’
for the failure to raise the claim earlier.” Id.; 725 ILCS 5/122-1(f) (West 2016). Cause refers
to some objective factor external to the defense that impeded counsel’s efforts to raise the
claim in an earlier proceeding. Davis, 2014 IL 115595, ¶ 14. Prejudice refers to a claimed
constitutional error that so infected the entire trial that the resulting conviction or sentence
violates due process. Id. “Both prongs must be satisfied for the defendant to prevail.” Id.
¶ 23 Our supreme court in Davis determined that the Court’s decision in Miller constitutes
“cause” under section 122-1(f) because it was not available to counsel earlier. Id. ¶ 42. Here,
Miller was not decided until seven years after Lusby filed his initial postconviction petition.
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Miller was not available to Lusby’s counsel at the time of his sentencing or at the time he
filed his initial postconviction petition.
¶ 24 The State argues that Lusby did not show “cause” because he previously argued that the
trial court failed to consider his age in his motion to reconsider. Lusby did argue that the trial
court failed to consider his age during sentencing in his motion to reconsider. However,
Lusby is specifically arguing that Miller, which requires a court to consider a juvenile’s age
and its attendant characteristics before sentencing him to a life sentence, was applicable to
this case and should be applied retroactively. Defense counsel did not have an opportunity to
present this argument because Miller was decided after he filed his initial postconviction
petition. See People v. Williams, 2018 IL App (1st) 151373, ¶ 13 (rejecting the State’s
res judicata argument because Miller was decided 17 years after the defendant’s conviction
and sentence). Therefore, we find that Lusby met the “cause” prong of the cause and
prejudice test.
¶ 25 Lusby claims that he also met the “prejudice” prong under the cause and prejudice test
and requests that this court remand this case for a new sentencing hearing rather than proceed
to the second-stage postconviction proceedings. Davis, 2014 IL 115595, and Holman, 2017
IL 120655, provide guidance on this issue. In Davis, the defendant fatally shot two people.
Davis, 2014 IL 115595, ¶ 4. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to natural life
imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Id. ¶ 5. The First District determined that
Miller applied retroactively on postconviction review and remanded the defendant’s case for
a new sentencing hearing, and the State appealed. Id. ¶ 10. The supreme court noted that a
new rule is not applied retroactively to cases on collateral review unless (1) it is a new
substantive rule or (2) it is a rule “ ‘implicating the fundamental fairness and accuracy of the
criminal proceeding.’ ” Id. ¶ 36 (quoting Schriro v. Summerlin, 542 U.S. 348, 352 (2004)).
Relying on People v. Morfin, 2012 IL App (1st) 103568, the court explained that the
Supreme Court’s ruling in Miller created a new substantive law because, although Miller
actually mandates a new procedure by requiring a court to consider a juvenile’s age during
sentencing, the rule “is the result of a substantive change in the law that prohibits mandatory
life-without-parole sentencing.” (Internal quotation marks omitted.) Davis, 2014 IL 115595,
¶ 39. Therefore, the court determined that Miller applied retroactively. It also held that, based
on Miller’s substantive rule that prohibits mandatory life without parole of juveniles, Miller
constitutes prejudice under the cause and prejudice test because “it retroactively applies to
defendant’s sentencing hearing.” Id. ¶ 42.
¶ 26 In Holman, the defendant argued that the trial court erred when it denied his motion for
leave to file a successive postconviction petition. Holman, 2017 IL 120655, ¶ 20. On appeal,
the defendant argued that his discretionary life sentence was unconstitutional under Miller.
Id. Our supreme court determined that a trial court must consider a juvenile’s age-related
characteristics as specified in Miller because “age is not a chronological fact but a
multifaceted set of attributes that carry constitutional significance.” Id. ¶¶ 43-44. These
characteristics include:
“(1) the juvenile defendant’s chronological age at the time of the offense and any
evidence of his particular immaturity, impetuosity, and failure to appreciate risks and
consequences; (2) the juvenile defendant’s family and home environment; (3) the
juvenile defendant’s degree of participation in the homicide and any evidence of
familial or peer pressures that may have affected him; (4) the juvenile defendant’s
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incompetence, including his inability to deal with police officers or prosecutors and
his incapacity to assist his own attorneys; and (5) the juvenile defendant’s prospects
for rehabilitation.” Id. ¶ 46.
The court reviewed the trial record and held that the defendant’s sentence was constitutional.
Id. ¶¶ 47, 50. It reasoned that (1) the trial court’s statement that “it found ‘no mitigating
factors’ ” (id. ¶ 49) was about the 12 factors enumerated in section 5-5-3.1 of the Unified
Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5/5-5-3.1 (West 2016)) and not about the Miller factors,
(2) the trial court did not have any evidence related to the statutory factors in mitigation
enumerated in section 5-5-3.1, and (3) the defendant intentionally decided not to present any
mitigating evidence despite his opportunity to do so. The court further found that the trial
court “explicitly stated that it considered the trial evidence and the PSI” and that the minimal
evidence related to the Miller factors did not undermine the “significant evidence” related to
factors in aggravation. Holman, 2017 IL 120655, ¶¶ 48-50. It concluded that the trial court
properly denied his motion for leave to file a successive postconviction petition. Id. ¶ 50.
¶ 27 Here, the trial court mentions age in two instances: (1) when the court stated that Lusby is
not eligible for capital punishment because of his age and (2) when the court stated, “This is
a choice that you made at a young age and I know that choices, youthful choices can be—are
not, you know, sometimes are [sic] sometimes in very very poor judgment, but this is not one
that can be taken back, and this is not one that can be considered minor, and this is not one
that can be considered for anything but setting your future in the Department of Corrections.”
Based on the ruling, the trial court did not address Lusby’s age-related characteristics; rather,
it gave a generalized statement about youth and their poor judgment. Unlike the trial court in
Holman, there is no indication in the record that the trial court considered the evidence of
Lusby’s “immaturity, impetuosity, and failure to appreciate risks and consequences” or
family environment in the PSI. The PSI included various incidences of such evidence
including that (1) Lusby was expelled from the tenth grade for “gang banging”; (2) he had
used marijuana, PCP, and alcohol; (3) he had a lengthy criminal history including his 1994
aggravated discharge of a firearm juvenile conviction; (4) his sisters also had a criminal
history; and (5) the probation officer had recommended Lusby attend counseling to control
his “violent tendencies.”
¶ 28 The trial court also stated that there were no factors in mitigation, and similar to Holman,
we find that the trial court was referring to the factors enumerated in section 5-5-3.1.
However, unlike Holman, the trial court did not “explicitly” state that it considered the
evidence in Lusby’s PSI during sentencing, and thus, we cannot conclude that the trial court
considered any evidence related to the Miller factors. Therefore, we find that Lusby was
prejudiced because Miller is applied retroactively and the trial court did not consider his age
and the attendant characteristics described in Miller before sentencing him to de facto life.
¶ 29 We note that the crime for which Lusby was convicted and sentenced was heinous. Under
Miller, a trial court may sentence “the rare juvenile offender whose crime reflects irreparable
corruption” to life without parole. Miller, 567 U.S. at 479-80. However, “[t]he court may
make that decision only after considering the defendant’s youth and its attendant
characteristics.” Holman, 2017 IL 120655, ¶ 46. Generally, a case will advance to the
three-stage process for reviewing postconviction petitions when the court determines that the
petitioner has satisfied the cause and prejudice test. See People v. Bailey, 2017 IL 121450,
¶ 26. Because we hold that Lusby’s sentence violated the eighth amendment, we remand this
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case for resentencing. See Smolley, 2018 IL App (3d) 150577, ¶ 21 (“[w]here the record does
not indicate that the trial court considered the defendant’s characteristics of youth before
sentencing a juvenile to a de facto life sentence, the case should be remanded for a new
sentencing hearing”); People v. Warren, 2016 IL App (1st) 090884-C, ¶ 51 (“Because
defendant’s sentence is unconstitutional, he is entitled to a new sentencing hearing. There is
no need for further postconviction proceedings on this issue.”). This issue is dispositive of
this appeal. However, we address the remaining issues as they may occur on rehearing.
¶ 30 II. State’s Objections
¶ 31 Lusby argues that the trial court erred when it allowed the State to file and argue
objections to his motion for leave to file a successive postconviction petition. Both parties
contend that the same issue is addressed in People v. Bailey, 2016 IL App (3d) 140207
(Bailey I), which was currently pending before the supreme court at the time Lusby filed this
appeal. Since then, the supreme court made its decision in People v. Bailey, 2017 IL 121450
(Bailey II). Based on the supreme court’s ruling in Bailey II, the State concedes that the trial
court erred when it allowed the objections.
¶ 32 In Bailey II, the court held that the State is not permitted to participate at the cause and
prejudice stage of successive postconviction proceedings because (1) the court is statutorily
required to make an independent determination of whether the petitioner met the requisite of
cause and prejudice, (2) there is no provision in the statute that allows an evidentiary hearing
on the issue of cause and prejudice, and (3) it would be fundamentally unfair for the State to
participate as “successive postconviction petitions are typically filed pro se and the Act
makes no provision for a defendant to be entitled to counsel until after a postconviction
petition is docketed.” Id. ¶¶ 24, 27.
¶ 33 Pursuant to Bailey II, the State improperly filed and argued objections to Lusby’s motion.
Therefore, the trial court erred when it allowed the objections.
¶ 34 III. Substitution of Judge
¶ 35 Lastly, Lusby requests that this case be heard before a different judge on remand. “There
is no absolute right to a substitution of judge at a post-conviction proceeding. [Citation.]
Rather, the same judge who presided over the defendant’s trial should hear his
post-conviction petition, unless it is shown that the defendant would be substantially
prejudiced.” People v. Hall, 157 Ill. 2d 324, 331 (1993). The trial court erred when it denied
Lusby’s motion despite the supreme court’s ruling in Davis that Miller satisfies the requisite
cause and prejudice test under section 122-1(f) of the Post-Conviction Hearing Act. It also
improperly allowed the State to file and argue objections to Lusby’s motion. However, we do
not see any malicious intent in the trial court’s errors and there is “no indication that the court
will not follow the law on remand.” People v. White, 2017 IL App (1st) 142358, ¶ 43.
Therefore, we deny Lusby’s request for a new judge on remand.
¶ 36 CONCLUSION
¶ 37 The judgment of the circuit court of Will County is reversed and remanded.
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¶ 38 Reversed and remanded.
¶ 39 PRESIDING JUSTICE CARTER, dissenting:
¶ 40 I respectfully dissent from the majority’s decision in the present case. I would find that
defendant has failed to establish prejudice under the cause and prejudice test. In my opinion,
the trial court’s comments show that it considered defendant’s youth and its attendant
circumstances in sentencing defendant. The trial court even considered those factors a second
time at the hearing on the motion to reconsider sentence when defendant again raised the
issue of his age and asserted that the trial court had failed to consider his age, his potential for
rehabilitation, and his potential to be restored to useful citizenship.
¶ 41 In Holman, our supreme court recognized that “a juvenile defendant may be sentenced to
life imprisonment without parole, but only if the trial court determines that the defendant’s
conduct showed irretrievable depravity, permanent incorrigibility, or irreparable corruption
beyond the possibility of rehabilitation.” See Holman, 2017 IL 120655, ¶ 46. Defendant in
the instant case sexually assaulted and then executed the victim, a 27-year-old school teacher,
in her own home. When the victim was later discovered, she had multiple rectal and vaginal
lacerations, knife wounds to her neck, and a gunshot wound above her right eye. Defendant’s
semen was found in the victim’s rectum and vagina. As the trial court’s comments in
sentencing indicate, the trial court determined that the horrendous conduct of this defendant
showed irretrievable depravity, permanent incorrigibility, or irreparable corruption beyond
the possibility of rehabilitation. See id. I would find, therefore, that defendant’s sentence
passes constitutional standards. See id. ¶¶ 46-50. I cannot join the majority in its conclusion
that the trial court failed to consider the required information, much of which was contained
in the PSI, merely because the trial court did not expressly state that it had considered the
PSI. I would, thus, affirm the trial court’s denial of defendant’s motion for leave to file a
successive postconviction petition.
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