Coverage since May 28, 2026

Postconviction Relief

Illinois Constitutional Criminal Postconviction Relief

People v. Conwell — First District Allows Young Adult’s Successive Postconviction Petition Challenging Mandatory Life Sentence

/ June 8, 2026

The First District reverses dismissal of a successive postconviction petition by a defendant sentenced to mandatory life at age 18, finding evolving neuroscience on young-adult brain development constitutes cause for the new claim.

Illinois Civil Rights Criminal Postconviction Relief

Uncategorized

People v. Drew — First District Holds Certificate of Innocence Must Be Granted After Actual-Innocence Postconviction Relief

/ June 8, 2026

The First District holds that a circuit court must grant a certificate of innocence when a petitioner has obtained postconviction relief on an actual-innocence claim and the State has dismissed all charges.