Defendant was convicted of armed robbery with a firearm and sentenced to 45 years in prison. Defendant appealed, arguing that the State failed to convict him beyond a reasonable doubt where no firearm was recovered, that the trial court erred when it improperly admitted evidence of other crimes and refused to excuse a juror who formerly worked with a State witness, that the trial court abused its discretion in refusing defendant’s request for standby counsel, that the trial court exhibited bias, and that his 45-year sentence was an excessive “trial tax.” The appellate court affirmed, finding, among other things, that while the trial court used language that could be construed as “racist and offensive,” the comments were made outside the presence of the jury and were not a material factor in the defendant’s conviction and that, when viewing the entire proceedings, the trial court’s comments and conduct did not indicate a bias or prejudice against defendant. (McBRIDE and BURKE, concurring)
Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Bias
Prejudice