People v. Jackson

Presiding Justice Cunningham concurred in the judgment and opinion.

Justice Connors dissented, with opinion.

OPINION

After a bench trial, defendant, Charles Jackson, was found guilty of first degree murder, but mentally ill. At trial, defendant raised the defense of insanity. On appeal, he asks that this court excuse his procedural default and address whether the trial court abandoned its role as a neutral and impartial arbiter and denied him a fair trial by; (1) assuming the role of prosecutor when questioning defendant’s expert witness in regard to defendant’s sanity; (2) by interjecting its…