People v. Collins

Summary

The Illinois Supreme Court dismissed the State’s appeal because it abandoned the issue on which the court granted leave to appeal and instead raised arguments not presented in its petition. The court remanded the case for a new trial, leaving undisturbed the appellate court’s reversal of Jodon Collins’s convictions based on the admission of statements from a body-worn-camera recording.

Holdings

1. The court dismissed the appeal because the State abandoned the issue on which the court granted leave to appeal and failed to argue that threshold issue in its briefing, while raising different arguments that were not presented in the petition for leave to appeal.
2. Although the appeal was dismissed, the cause was remanded to the circuit court for a new trial consistent with the appellate court's judgment.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the Illinois Law Enforcement Officer Body-Worn Camera Act made relevant body-worn-camera recordings admissible without evidentiary limitation.
2. Whether the audio statements in the body-worn-camera recording were hearsay or admissible under an exception to the hearsay rule.
3. Whether the appeal should be dismissed because the State abandoned the issue presented in its petition for leave to appeal and raised different issues that were not presented in that petition.

Disposition

dismissed