People v. Rivera

Following a jury trial, defendant, Michael Rivera, was found guilty of first degree murder (720 ILCS 5/9 — 1(a)(1) (West 1998)) and sentenced to 85 years’ incarceration. Defendant timely appeals, contending (1) the trial court erred when it sua sponte raised a reverse Batson (see Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 90 L. Ed. 2d 69, 106 S. Ct. 1712 (1986)) challenge to his use of a peremptory challenge during jury selection, (2) his extended-term sentence violated the rule announced in Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 147 L. Ed. 2d 435, 120 S. Ct. 2348 (2000), and (3) his extended-term…