Opinion ID: 2052633
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: State's Argument on the Sufficiency of Mitigating Evidence

Text: Defendant argues that the State repeatedly attempted to impermissibly shift its burden of showing no mitigating factors sufficient to preclude the imposition of the death sentence (Ill.Rev.Stat. 1985, ch. 38, par. 9-1(h)) by arguing that the court must find the presence of mitigating factors in order to preclude the imposition of the death penalty. This issue is waived because it was not raised on direct appeal. Defendant further contends that appellate counsel should have argued that trial counsel should have objected to the State's incorrect characterization of the legal standard to be applied in imposing the death penalty. This argument would not have succeeded on direct appeal. Defendant was sentenced by the trial judge, not by a jury. The trial court's comments at sentencing show that he understood and applied the correct legal standard that there were no mitigating factors sufficient to preclude the imposition of the death penalty. Appellate counsel was not ineffective for failing to raise this issue.