People v. Purnell

In February 2002, defendant, Willie E. Purnell, an inmate at Illinois River Correctional Center, filed a habeas corpus petition. Later that month, the trial court dismissed Purnell’s petition, finding that (1) it failed to state a claim for habeas corpus relief and (2) if considered as a postconviction petition, the claims therein were barred by principles of forfeiture and res judicata.

Purnell appeals, arguing that the trial court erred by dismissing his habeas corpus petition without considering whether the petition stated the gist of a constitutional claim. We disagree and affirm.

I.…