People v. Harvey

The primary issue in these three consolidated cases concerns the trial courts’ use of the mere-fact method of impeachment. The defendants, Derrick Harvey, Noah Barefield, and Maurice G. Lyons, were separately convicted of various crimes. All three defendants appealed, challenging the trial court’s use of mere-fact impeachment as violating this court’s holdings in People v. Atkinson, 186 Ill. 2d 450 (1999), and People v. Cox, 195 Ill. 2d 378 (2001).

The First District of the appellate court affirmed Harvey’s conviction, finding he had waived the issue. Harvey, No. 1 — 99—0637 (unpublished order…