People v. Lackland

Following a jury trial, defendant John Lackland was found guilty of armed robbery and was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. Defendant appeals his conviction on the grounds that the circuit court erred in denying defendant’s motion for substitution of judge pursuant to section 114 — 5(a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 38, par. 114-5(a) (now 725 ILCS 5/114-5(a) (West (1992))) and in barring defendant from impeaching a witness with prior statements. Defendant also argues that the State made improper closing argument regarding defendant’s silence after…