People v. Mitchell

A jury found the defendant, Clifford Mitchell, guilty of aggravated criminal sexual assault in violation of section 12 — 14(b)(1) of the Criminal Code of 1961 (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 38, par. 12 — 14(b)(1)). The circuit court of Cook County denied his post-trial motion for a new trial and sentenced him to a term of 12 years in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections. The defendant prevailed upon appeal (228 Ill. App. 3d 917), contending, inter alia, that Batson v. Kentucky (1986), 476 U.S. 79, 90 L. Ed. 2d 69, 106 S. Ct. 1712, and the 1970 Illinois Constitution prohibit the…