People v. Willis

A jury convicted defendant Brian Willis of two counts of first degree murder for the shooting deaths of 23-year-old Alexander Clair and 25-year-old Jewel Marie Washington on October 30, 1996, near the intersection of 69th and Calumet Streets in Chicago. Willis was sentenced to natural life in prison. In this appeal, Willis claims that reversal is warranted because (1) the trial court improperly allowed the judge who presided over Willis’ first trial and later granted his motion for a new trial to testify at Willis’ second trial; (2) the trial court erred in denying Willis’ two motions for…