Opinion ID: 765800
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Sentencing Court Instructions

Text: 36 Finally, Franklin claims that the trial court incorrectly instructed the sentencing jury that its verdict, whether for or against a death sentence, must be unanimous. As a result, Franklin alleges that he was denied a fair sentencing hearing. Under Illinois law, only a unanimous jury may impose the death sentence: if a single juror opposes giving the death penalty, a defendant may receive only a term of imprisonment. See 720 ILCS 5/9-1(g). Franklin contends that the sentencing judge likely confused the jury because he improperly instructed that its verdict, whether for or against a sentence of death, must be unanimous. 37 We disagree with Franklin's contention but we need not resolve this claim on the merits because Franklin has forfeited this argument. Franklin raised the same claim on direct appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court. See Franklin I, 552 N.E.2d at 760. In Franklin I, the court rejected this claim on procedural grounds, finding that Franklin had forfeited this issue by failing to raise an objection to the court's instructions at the sentencing hearing. Id. Because forfeiture is an adequate and independent state ground for a decision, see Patrasso, 121 F.3d at 301, this claim has been procedurally defaulted unless Franklin can show either cause and prejudice for the failure to raise the claim in state court, or that the default would lead to a fundamental miscarriage of justice, see id. Franklin does not attempt to satisfy either of the procedural default exceptions and, therefore, we deny his claim.