Illinois Supreme Court
Criminal Court
Guilty Pleas
A guilty plea does not foreclose a claim of actual innocence under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act. A claim of innocence is a request for additional due process that is triggered by new and compelling evidence showing the defendant's innocence. Defendant did not invite deprivation of his liberty despite compelling evidence of his innocence when he lacked knowledge of and could not reasonably discover such evidence at the time of his plea. Trial court's decision to find that witness, who came forward only after being imprisoned and discussing the case with Defendant, was not credible, was not manifestly erroneous. (A. BURKE, KILBRIDE, GARMAN, THEIS, and NEVILLE, concurring.)