Opinion ID: 3134745
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Exemption From Death Penalty for Persons Who Require Special Forms of Communicative Assistance

Text: Section 104–22 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 (725 ILCS 5/104–22 (West 2000)) recognizes that defendants with certain disabilities, who may otherwise be unfit to stand trial, may become fit if special provisions are made or assistance provided. However, the legislature has also determined that any defendant “convicted following a trial under Section 104–22 shall not be subject to the death penalty.” 725 ILCS 5/104–26(b) (West 2000). Defendant contends that this exemption renders the death penalty statute unconstitutionally discriminatory, arbitratry and capricious because it exempts from the death penalty a defendant who requires “a translator or needs special assistance because of unfitness due to a physical disability.” The argument posited by defendant has been rejected by this court on previous occasions. This court has held that the death penalty statute is not unconstitutional because it exempts persons in need of special assistance. See People v. Harris , 129 Ill. 2d 123 (1989); People v. Ashford , 121 Ill. 2d 55, 90 (1988); People v. Perez , 108 Ill. 2d 70, 94-95 (1985). Furthermore, this court, in construing section 104–10, has held that the statutory scheme does not intend that those defendants who are merely unable to speak or understand English be exempted from the death penalty. People v. Britz , 123 Ill. 2d 446 (1988). See also People v. Crews , 122 Ill. 2d 266, 294 (1988); People v. Enoch , 122 Ill. 2d 176, 202-03 (1988); People v. Foster , 119 Ill. 2d 69, 105 (1987). In fact, this court has held that any interpretation of sections 104–22 and 104–26(b) that would allow for such an exemption reflects “a serious misunderstanding” of the statutory scheme. People v. Madej , 106 Ill. 2d 201, 212 (1985). Because defendant’s premise is flawed, there is no merit to his argument that the death penalty statute is unconstitutional.