Opinion ID: 1980708
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Gacho Instruction

Text: Defendant claims that the trial court abused its discretion when it refused to instruct the jury that defendant would be sentenced to natural life in prison if he was not sentenced to death. (See People v. Gacho (1988), 122 Ill.2d 221, 262, 119 Ill.Dec. 287, 522 N.E.2d 1146 (natural life jury instruction is required in capital sentencing hearings involving defendants who face sentences of either natural life or the death penalty).) In Simms II, 143 Ill.2d at 181, 157 Ill.Dec. 483, 572 N.E.2d 947, this court rejected defendant's argument that he was entitled to a jury instruction stating the possible terms of imprisonment if a death sentence was not imposed. Defendant now argues that he should be able to waive his eligibility for any sentence less than natural life in order to obtain a Gacho instruction. In support, defendant contends that a waiver of lesser sentences is a form of mitigation and, since relevant mitigation evidence may not be barred, he is entitled to make such a waiver. We reject this argument. A waiver of lesser sentences is not mitigation. A natural life jury instruction is available only under the circumstances stated in Gacho. Such an instruction is unavailable where, as here, the defendant is statutorily eligible for a sentence less than natural life in prison. Ill.Rev.Stat.1987, ch. 38, pars. 1005-8-1(a)(1), 1005-8-2(a)(1); Simms II, 143 Ill.2d at 181, 157 Ill.Dec. 483, 572 N.E.2d 947.