In 2010, the Supreme Court held that equitable tolling applies to the one-year limitation for filing federal habeas petitions, giving defendants a pathway to relief when they're victims of attorney misconduct and other "extraordinary circumstances."
Effective January 1, 2005, the State Appellate Defender may hire investigators to provide investigative services to appointed counsel and county public defenders.
Effective immediately, a pilot program requiring the recording of custodial interviews of suspects will be established in four police stations in the State of Illinois.
This legislation will become effective if the legislature enacts the Capital Punishment Reform Study Committee Act (Senate Bill 472) over the Governor's amendatory veto.
Capital murder trials put a strain on county budgets, which has led to second-class justice in some cases, critics charge. But improvements in the capital litigation system are making a difference.
On March 2, 2001, the Illinois Supreme Court reversed the circuit court's dismissal of the defendant's post-conviction petition filed in a death penalty case.
On June 15, 2000, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed first degree murder, attempted murder, and armed robbery convictions against Paris D. Sims, as well as a death sentence ordered by the circuit court of St. Clair County.
On December 23, 1999, the Office of the Illinois State Treasurer adopted emergency rules to section 725 of the Illinois Administrative Code. 74 Ill Adm Code 725.
When Illinois re-enacted the death penalty in 1977, the General Assembly and the criminal justice system made a legal and moral commitment to the people of Illinois that, if executions take place in their name, they would be done right.
