People v. Mitchell

PRESIDING JUSTICE SCARIANO

delivered the opinion of the court:

Maurice Mitchell was charged by information with the murder of his wife Debra Mitchell, and with armed violence. Following a jury trial, Maurice was convicted of murder and he received a 40-year sentence, from which he appeals. We affirm.

During voir dire, Maurice made two motions for a mistrial based on the following grounds: (1) that the People systematically excluded blacks from the jury; and (2) that the trial judge denied a defense request “that the jurors be asked whether they belong to any organizations dealing with social…