SPRINGFIELD, Ill., March 1 -- The Illinois Courts Office issued the following opinion on Feb. 1:
1. Petitioner, Richard Huff, filed a pro se postconviction petition alleging that his natural life sentence was unconstitutional under Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000). The petition was automatically advanced to the second stage due to the time limit, and counsel was appointed. Appointed postconviction counsel filed a certificate in accordance with Illinois Supreme Court Rule 651(c) (eff. July 1, 2017) but did not amend the pro se petition. After the State filed a motion to dismiss the petition, postconviction counsel did not file a response and instead stood on the allegations in the pro se petition and the Rule 651(c) certificate. ...