Court Opinion

ID: 9860332
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 23:18:13.235092+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:21:07.906841
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE HARRISON, concurring in part and dissenting in part: I agree that Timothy Buss’ convictions should be upheld. For the reasons set forth in my dissent in People v. Bull, 185 Ill. 2d 179 (1998), however, this state’s present death penalty law does not meet the requirements of the eighth and fourteenth amendments to the United States Constitution (U.S. Const., amends. VIII, XIV) or article I, section 2, of the Illinois Constitution (Ill. Const. 1970, art. I, § 2). Accordingly, we should vacate Buss’ death sentence and remand the cause to the circuit court for imposition of a sentence of imprisonment. 720 ILCS 5/9—1(j) (West 1994). There is, however, no need for the circuit court to conduct another sentencing hearing. Under the circumstances of this case, the only authorized disposition is a term of natural life imprisonment. 730 ILCS 5/5—8—1(1)(b) (West 1994).