People v. Wembley

Following separate jury trials, defendant, Ronald Wembley (defendant), and Roosevelt Stevens (codefendant), were both convicted of first degree murder. 720 ILCS 5/9 — 1(a)(1) (West 1998). The trial court sentenced defendant to 45 years in prison. This appeal followed.

On appeal, defendant argues that he was denied a fair trial because: (1) the trial court questioned his venire en masse and asked potential jurors to defer their questions; (2) the judge who conducted the voir dire was different from the judge who presided over the trial; (3) the State made improper closing arguments; and (4) the…