People v. Ramos

FIFTH DIVISION December 4, 2009 1-07-3244 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) Appeal from the ) Circuit Court of Plaintiff-Appellee, ) Cook County. ) v. ) No. 01 CR 19273 ) ALFREDO RAMOS, ) The Honorable ) James B. Linn, Defendant-Appellant. ) Judge Presiding. PRESIDING JUSTICE TOOMIN delivered the opinion of the court: In this appeal, we determine whether the trial court’s impromptu comments to the jury served to encourage superficial deliberations, minimize the State’s burden of proof, or hasten the jury’s verdict. Alfredo Ramos was convicted of two counts of first degree murder and…