People v. Pendleton

After a second jury trial, defendant, Ryan Pendleton, was found guilty of first-degree murder on January 25, 1993. Defendant was sentenced to a single term of 40 years’ imprisonment in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Defendant presents two arguments on appeal: (1) he was denied a fair trial under the Illinois Constitution’s due process clause because he was forced to exercise two of his peremptory challenges to excuse two jurors who should have been excused for cause by the trial court; and (2) the trial court abused its discretion by imposing defendant’s 40-year sentence.

BACKGROUND

On…