Verdict . News

•Corwyn Brown received mandatory life sentence in 1995 under habitual criminal law after third Class X felony conviction

Illinois Supreme Court Weighs Retroactive Juvenile Sentencing Reforms

The Illinois Supreme Court issued an opinion in People v. Brown addressing whether 2021 legislative reforms limiting life sentences for habitual criminals can apply retroactively to defendants whose first qualifying felony occurred as juveniles. The case involves Corwyn Brown, who received a mandatory life sentence in 1995 after his third Class X felony conviction.

•Brown's first qualifying felony occurred when he was 17 years old

•Illinois Supreme Court unanimously ruled government permits for emissions are irrelevant to pollution exclusion analysis in commercial liability policies

Illinois Supreme Court Rules on Insurance Coverage for Pollution Cases

The Illinois Supreme Court unanimously ruled that government permits authorizing emissions have no relevance in determining whether pollution exclusions apply to commercial liability insurance policies. The January 23, 2026 decision answers a certified question from the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

•Decision answers certified question from Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in ongoing federal litigation between Griffith Foods and National Union Fire Insurance

•Gregory Dobbins filed for certificate of innocence after his drug conviction was vacated due to fabricated evidence by corrupt Chicago police sergeant Ronald Watts

Illinois Supreme Court Rules on Posthumous Certificate of Innocence Petition

The Illinois Supreme Court addressed whether a certificate of innocence petition can proceed after the petitioner's death in *People v. Dobbins*, involving a man whose drug conviction was vacated due to fabricated evidence by corrupt Chicago police. Gregory Dobbins died two weeks before his scheduled hearing, leaving his family to fight for the innocence certificate.

•Dobbins died two weeks before his hearing, prompting his partner to seek substitution to continue the case on behalf of his estate

•Illinois Supreme Court established new two-step legal test for self-defense claims against police officers

Illinois Supreme Court Sets New Standard for Self-Defense Against Police

The Illinois Supreme Court ruled in *People v. Vesey* that defendants claiming self-defense against police officers must meet a two-step legal test. The case involved Courtney B. Vesey, who was denied self-defense jury instructions after being charged with aggravated battery of police officers.

•Trial courts must first determine if sufficient evidence exists of excessive force by officers under Criminal Code section 7-5

•Illinois Supreme Court reversed appellate court ruling that missing preliminary hearing constituted reviewable plain error

Illinois Supreme Court Reverses Appellate Court on Plain Error Standard

The Illinois Supreme Court reversed an appellate court ruling in *People v. Chambliss*, holding that a trial court's failure to conduct a constitutionally required preliminary hearing cannot be reviewed as second-prong plain error when the defendant never objected. The case addresses fundamental questions about constitutional criminal procedure requirements and appellate review standards.

•Defendant Anzano P. Chambliss was convicted of aggravated battery but never objected to lack of constitutional preliminary hearing

•Illinois Supreme Court affirmed ICC approval of Grain Belt Express transmission line certificate

Illinois Supreme Court Reverses ICC Approval of Major Power Line Project

The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that the Illinois Commerce Commission properly granted a certificate to Grain Belt Express, LLC for a high-voltage transmission line project, rejecting challenges from citizen groups who argued the company lacked adequate financial capability.

•Court ruled that present financial capability is not required for CPCN approval

•Illinois Supreme Court unanimously affirmed defense verdict in medical malpractice case against Quincy Medical Group

Illinois Supreme Court Affirms Medical Malpractice Defense Verdict

The Illinois Supreme Court unanimously affirmed a defense verdict in a medical malpractice case against Quincy Medical Group, rejecting plaintiff Robert Schilling's arguments that the trial court should have declared a mistrial after receiving a note from a juror.

•Plaintiff challenged trial court's response to juror note and jury polling procedures

Dec 4, 2025•4 min read

•Illinois Supreme Court unanimously reversed appellate court ruling in People v. Seymore

Illinois Supreme Court Reverses Good-Behavior Credit for Electronic Monitoring Breach

The Illinois Supreme Court unanimously reversed an appellate court decision that would have granted good-behavior credit to Geoffrey P. Seymore after he was sanctioned for violating electronic monitoring conditions during pretrial release.

•Court held defendant not entitled to good-behavior credit after violating electronic monitoring

Nov 20, 2025•4 min read

•Illinois Supreme Court dismissed pretrial detention appeal as moot after Sean Grayson was convicted of second-degree murder

Illinois Supreme Court Dismisses Grayson Pretrial Detention Appeal as Moot

The Illinois Supreme Court dismissed as moot an appeal regarding the pretrial detention of Sean Grayson, a former Sangamon County sheriff's deputy, after he was convicted of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey. The high court ruled the detention question became irrelevant following Grayson's trial and conviction.

•Grayson was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Sonja Massey during a domestic disturbance call