People v. Jeffries

In these consolidated appeals, the defendants raise several challenges to the constitutionality of the Illinois homicide scheme for first and second degree murder. (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1987, ch. 38, pars. 9 — 1, 9 — 2.) We examine the following topics: (1) whether the first and second degree murder scheme violates a defendant’s right to due process under the Federal and Illinois Constitutions, and (2) the "unreasonable belief’ in self-defense aspect of the second degree murder statute.

We allowed the Illinois Attorneys for Criminal Justice to submit a brief as amicus curiae in support of the…