Opinion ID: 2178200
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Severability of Section 110-4(b)

Text: While we find section 110-4(b) unconstitutional, our holding does not serve to invalidate the entire statute. In light of our obligation to uphold legislative enactments whenever possible, we may excise an unconstitutional portion of a statute and preserve the remainder (see 5 ILCS 70/1.31 (West 2000)) if what remains is complete in and of itself, and is capable of being executed wholly independently of the severed portion. People v. Sanders, 182 Ill.2d 524, 534, 231 Ill.Dec. 573, 696 N.E.2d 1144 (1998). Here, the invalidity of subsection (b) is not fatal to the remainder of section 110-4. We believe that the legislature would endorse the remainder of section 110-4 without subsection (b) and that subsections (a), (c), and (d) can stand independently of subsection (b). The removal of subsection (b) undermines neither the completeness of nor the ability to execute the remaining subsections of section 110-4.