Court Opinion

ID: 9712351
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 04:52:14.362685+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:11.646438
License: Public Domain

Mr. JUSTICE JIGANTI, dissenting in part: I concur in affirming the judgment of conviction, but respectfully dissent as to the sentence. The very able trial judge noted that the murder here was not committed on the spur of the moment and that the defendant was out to find the victim. He characterized the offense as heinous. The trial judge further noted that the defendant apparently had a good work record, an excellent military record, and lacked a criminal background so that there was no need for the rehabilitation of the defendant. The trial judge’s concern was with deterrents. He said the defendant must be punished for what he had done and “punished for an example to the rest of the people” that there are laws in this society and they have to be obeyed. I am mindful of the admonition of the Supreme Court in People v. Taylor (1965), 33 Ill. 2d 417, 424, 211 N.E.2d 673, that the power the reviewing courts have to reduce sentences should be applied with considerable caution and circumspection because of the trial judge’s superior opportunity in the course of the trial and hearing on mitigation to make a sound deliberation concerning the punishment to be imposed. I am also mindful of the fact that the trial court here was very deliberate and thoughtful in its consideration of the sentence to be imposed. However, I believe that the deterrent effect on society will be just as great with a sentence of 15 to 45 years. Such a sentence would also give a man, age 39, who was a useful citizen up until the time of this occurrence, an opportunity to return to useful citizenship again in accordance with article 1, section 11, of the Illinois Constitution of 1970. In the event he fails to indicate to the Department of Corrections during the course of his confinement that he will probably be able to be returned to useful citizenship then, of course, he can be retained in the institution up to the maximum number of years.