Opinion ID: 3134745
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Cumulative Effect of the Above Errors

Text: Recognizing that each of the claims of error raised in his post-conviction petition and in this appeal, standing alone, may be insufficient to warrant relief, defendant asks this court to assess the fairness of his trial and sentencing hearing after looking at the totality of the circumstances. He asks this court to decide whether these errors, which individually may be deemed harmless, cumulatively amount to a denial of due process. This court has recognized that individual errors may have the cumulative effect of denying a defendant a fair hearing ( People v. Hall , 194 Ill. 2d 305, 350 (2000); People v. Speight , 153 Ill. 2d 365, 376 (1992)) and has reversed convictions and sentences when it was clear that the cumulative effect of the errors deprived the defendant of due process (see People v. Walker , 91 Ill. 2d 502, 516-17 (1982); People v. Whitlow , 89 Ill. 2d 322, 341-42 (1982); People v. Romero , 36 Ill. 2d 315, 319-20 (1967)). However, this case does not present such a situation. None of the claims of error raised by defendant here were found to be of any merit. Thus, whether considered individually or in the aggregate, defendant’s claims do not demonstrate a substantial violation of his constitutional rights. There is no basis for granting defendant an evidentiary hearing or any alternate relief requested.