Illinois Supreme Court
People v. Hilliard
November 30, 2023234 N.E.3d 668
Summary
The Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the summary dismissal of Andre Hilliard’s first-stage postconviction petition. It held that his mandatory 25-year firearm enhancement, resulting in a 40-year total sentence for an adult who deliberately fired multiple shots at the victim, was not arguably cruel, degrading, or wholly disproportionate under the Illinois Constitution. The court clarified that proportionate-penalties challenges are not categorically limited to juveniles or life sentences, but held that Hilliard’s allegations nevertheless lacked an arguable legal basis.