People v. Taylor

In 1997, following a conference pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 402 (177 Ill. 2d R. 402), the defendant, Bernard Taylor, pleaded guilty to the murder of Terrance Brownlow. The defendant was sentenced to 55 years in prison. In 1999, the defendant filed a pro se postconviction petition alleging the ineffective assistance of trial counsel. The defendant was appointed counsel and filed a supplemental petition. Following a hearing pursuant to section 122 — 6 of the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Act) (725 ILCS 5/122 — 6 (West 2002)), Circuit Court Judge James Schreier, who had presided over guilty…