Opinion ID: 2044456
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Dismissal of Defendant's Petition

Text: Defendant next argues that his petition substantially alleges a deprivation of his constitutional rights and that, therefore, the trial court erred in dismissing the petition. As noted above, defendant has failed to demonstrate that his attorney's actions fell below an objective standard of reasonableness when he failed to investigate and present an insanity defense. Moreover, defendant has failed to plead facts that demonstrate that he was operating under a mental or emotional disturbance at the time of the murders. Because defendant has failed to plead facts that would support his arguments, the trial court did not err in dismissing these two claims. We turn now to the other two claims raised by defendant. In so doing, we note that we review de novo the trial court's dismissal of defendant's petition. People v. Coleman, 183 Ill.2d 366, 389, 233 Ill.Dec. 789, 701 N.E.2d 1063 (1998). Defendant is entitled to a hearing on his post-conviction petition if his allegations of fact make a substantial showing that he is imprisoned in violation of the state or federal constitution. Coleman, 183 Ill.2d at 382. 233 Ill.Dec. 789, 701 N.E.2d 1063.