ILLINOIS COURTS ISSUES OPINIONS ON THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS V/S GARY A. SMITH CASE

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., April 27 -- The Illinois Courts Office issued the following opinion on March 27:

1. Held: We vacate the judgment of the circuit court dismissing the defendant's postconviction petition where postconviction counsel rendered unreasonable assistance of counsel.

2. On July 13, 2017, the defendant, Gary A. Smith, filed a pro se postconviction petition for relief pursuant to the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Act) (725 ILCS 5/122-1 et seq. (West 2016)). The circuit court appointed counsel to represent the defendant on March 7, 2018. On July 16, 2020, the circuit court conducted a third stage evidentiary hearing on the defendant's postconviction petition and entered a written order denying the defendant's petition on August 6, ...