People v. Watson

Illinois Appellate Court
Criminal Court
Ineffective Assistance of Counsel
Citation
Case Number: 
2012 IL App (2d) 091328
Decision Date: 
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
District: 
2d Dist.
Division/County: 
Winnebago Co.
Holding: 
Reversed and remanded.
Justice: 
JORGENSEN
Defendant was convicted of residential burglary. Defense counsel's performance fell below objective standard of reasonableness in failing to effectively challenge meaning or significance of ISP forensic scientist's conclusions based on only partial-profile DNA comparison, and counsel failed to, but could have, made viable arguments or evidence challenging significance of witness' findings. (BURKE, concurring; BIRKETT, dissenting.)