James Samuels v. Jeffrey Wehking

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS EASTERN DIVISION JAMES SAMUELS, ) ) Petitioner, ) ) vs. ) Case No. 25 C 6517 ) JEFFREY WEHKING, ) ) Respondent. ) MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER MATTHEW F. KENNELLY, District Judge: On November 20, 2008, after a bench trial in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, James Samuels was convicted of first-degree murder and concealment of a homicide. The trial judge sentenced Samuels to thirty-four years in prison. Samuels unsuccessfully challenged his conviction and sentence on direct appeal and in state postconviction…