People v. Johnson

Following a bench trial, defendant Sammie Johnson was convicted of first degree murder. The trial court sentenced defendant to 28 years’ imprisonment. On appeal, defendant contends that he was not proved guilty of first degree murder beyond a reasonable doubt and that the charge should be reduced to second degree murder; that the Illinois murder statute is unconstitutional; that the trial court erred in not appointing new counsel for defendant when he presented his pro se post-conviction motion alleging ineffective assistance of counsel; and that the sentence was improper.

George Nance, a…