People v. Blair

The defendant, Leon Blair, appeals from an order of the circuit court summarily dismissing his petition for relief under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Act) (725 ILCS 5/122 — 1 et seq. (West 2000)). For the reasons that follow, we reverse and remand this cause to the circuit court with instructions.

Following a jury trial, the defendant was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to a prison term of 55 years. Thereafter, both the defendant and his trial counsel filed motions for a new trial. The defendant’s pro se motion alleged that, during trial, his attorney became physically ill…