Judge suggests reform for plea-bargaining practices

Trial Notebook

By Steven P. Garmisa

Hoey & Farina

Posted November 2, 2023 11:10 AM

Adding an epilogue at the end of an unpublished decision that affirmed a 20-year prison sentence, Justice Robert J. Steigmann repeated his sharp criticism of prevalent plea-bargaining practices and added something new — a proposal for amending Illinois Supreme Court Rule 402.Trenton Higgins was accused of aggravated battery of a child. During plea discussions under Rule 402(d), the trial judge reportedly said a sentence “in the low range, like 7 or 8 years,” might be appropriate.The plea conference wasn’t recorded. And …

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