People v. Lewis

At issue in this case is whether the statutory penalties for armed robbery (720 ILCS 5/18 — 2 (West 1994)) and armed violence predicated on robbery committed with a category I weapon (720 ILCS 5/33A — 1 (West 1994)) are proportionate penalties pursuant to article I, section 11, of the 1970 Illinois Constitution. The circuit court, in a ruling dismissing a count of armed violence predicated on robbery committed with a category I weapon, concluded that the penalties are unconstitutionally disproportionate. The State appealed directly to this court. 134 Ill. 2d R. 603.1 For the reasons which…