The People of the State of Illinois, Appellee v. Joseph Bannister, Appellant

Summary

The Illinois Supreme Court affirmed Bannister’s convictions and death sentence. It held that his guilt-phase jury waiver was knowing and voluntary despite inaccurate sentencing admonishments, that he personally controlled the statutory choice of a jury for capital sentencing, and that the challenged sentencing instructions and prosecutorial remarks did not constitute reversible error. The court also rejected his constitutional challenge to the death-penalty statute under the principles governing jury findings and aggravating factors. Justice Kilbride, dissenting, would have vacated the death sentence and ordered a new sentencing hearing because the no-death instruction was confusing and legally inaccurate.