People v. Blaylock

This case presents us with a unique set of circumstances. The original issue raised before this court is whether the State could retry defendant for first degree murder where the trial exhibits from defendant’s first trial, allegedly favorable to defendant, were lost by the circuit clerk of Vermilion County. After this issue was fully briefed by both parties, but before oral arguments, the missing box of trial exhibits was found in the clerk’s office. We stayed proceedings and remanded the cause to the circuit court for a hearing on the status of the recently discovered evidence. The circuit…