Opinion ID: 2148855
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 13

Heading: Constitionality of Section 9-1(b)(11)

Text: The defendant asserts that his death sentence must be vacated because he was found eligible on the basis of an unconstitutionally vague eligibility factor. As noted, the defendant was found eligible for death on the basis of two eligibility factors: (1) murder in the course of a felony (720 ILCS 5/9-1(b)(6) (West 1992)), and (2) murder committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner pursuant to a preconceived plan (720 ILCS 5/9-1(b)(11) (West 1992)). The defendant challenges the constitutionality of section 9-1(b)(11), arguing that its terms do not adequately narrow the class of those eligible for death. The defendant's challenge fails. Section 9-1(b)(11) provides that a statutory eligibility factor exists if: the murder was committed in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner pursuant to a preconceived plan, scheme or design to take a human life by unlawful means, and the conduct of the defendant created a reasonable expectation that the death of a human being would result therefrom. 720 ILCS 5/9-1(b)(11) (West 1992). This court has already held that section 9-1(b)(11) is not unconstitutionally vague, finding that its terms place the necessary restraint on the sentencer's discretion to impose death. People v. Munson, 171 Ill.2d 158, 191-92, 215 Ill.Dec. 125, 662 N.E.2d 1265 (1996); People v. Johnson, 154 Ill.2d 356, 372-73, 181 Ill.Dec. 926, 609 N.E.2d 294 (1993). In this case, the evidence overwhelmingly supported a finding of eligibility based on section 9-1(b)(11). The evidence showed that the defendant coldly and meticulously planned the murder of Dr. Sullivan. Some time prior to the crime, the defendant decided to commit the murder of a plastic surgeon in order to strike out against the perpetrators of fake Aryan cosmetics. In furtherance of this goal, the defendant perused the yellow pages of the telephone book and selected Dr. Sullivan as his target, based on the size of his advertisement. A few days prior to the crime, the defendant called Dr. Sullivan's office and made an appointment under a false name. At the scheduled date and time, the defendant went to Dr. Sullivan's office for the purpose of carrying out his plan. The defendant waited to commit the murder until he was in the office with Dr. Sullivan so that he could be sure that he was murdering the right man. In addition, the defendant stated that he had planned an escape route and that he had carefully parked his car to best effect his escape after the murder. A more coldly planned murder is difficult to imagine. Thus, the evidence clearly established the existence of this eligibility factor.