Public Act 099-0778
 
HB4683 EnrolledLRB099 15776 MRW 40082 b

    AN ACT concerning criminal law.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 5. The Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 is
amended by adding Section 115-4.5, the heading of Article 121A,
and Sections 121A-1 and 121A-2 as follows:
 
    (725 ILCS 5/115-4.5 new)
    Sec. 115-4.5. Death of defendant.
    Whenever the prosecuting attorney learns of the death of
the defendant prior to the entry of a final and appealable
judgment in a criminal case, he or she shall promptly notify
the other party and file a certificate of notice of the
defendant's death with the circuit court before which the case
is pending. Upon filing of the certificate, the court shall
enter an order abating the proceedings ab initio.
 
    (725 ILCS 5/Art. 121A heading new)
ARTICLE 121A. PENDING DIRECT APPEAL AFTER DEFENDANT'S DEATH

 
    (725 ILCS 5/121A-1 new)
    Sec. 121A-1. Application of Article.
    Unless otherwise provided by Rules of the Supreme Court,
this Article shall govern pending direct appeal in all criminal
cases after the death of the defendant.
 
    (725 ILCS 5/121A-2 new)
    Sec. 121A-2. Pending direct appeal after the defendant's
death.
    (a) Whenever the prosecuting attorney learns of the death
of the defendant following the entry of a final and appealable
judgment but prior to the conclusion of the defendant's direct
appeal from the conviction, he or she shall promptly notify the
other party and file a certificate of notice of the defendant's
death with the reviewing court before which the direct appeal
is pending.
    (b) Unless the executor or administrator of the defendant's
estate or other successor in interest files a verified motion
to intervene in the direct appeal within 30 days of the filing
of the certificate under subsection (a) of this Section, the
reviewing court shall dismiss the direct appeal without
disturbing the judgment of the circuit court.
    (c) If the court receives a timely petition for leave to
intervene by an authorized party, the reviewing court shall
permit the petitioning party to intervene in the direct appeal
in place of the defendant and the direct appeal shall proceed
in the same manner as if the defendant were still alive. The
authority to intervene shall terminate automatically upon
completion of the proceedings in the direct appeal.
    (d) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to authorize
the filing or continued litigation of a post-conviction
petition or other collateral attack on a conviction or sentence
on behalf of a deceased defendant.