FORBES SEEKS TO CONCEAL DOMESTIC BATTERY CONVICTIONS FROM JURY
As a father of two young daughters, the below appellate court decision is alarming and frightening! Earlier this week, my opponent, Associate Judge Rodney Forbes, was reversed by a higher court for seeking to conceal three domestic battery convictions from a jury. The appellate court stated Forbes’ ultimate conclusion “was rooted in misapprehension of the applicable law,” his “findings are perplexing,” he misapplied “existing case law,” and Forbes’ “judgment demonstrates . . . confusion.” The appellate court went on to state that Forbes “was simply wrong.”
Our legal system must protect the law-abiding citizens and victims in our community.
We can and must do better!
OPINION SUMMARY:
In May 2021, the State charged defendant, Willie A. Currie, with one count of aggravated domestic battery and two counts of domestic battery (with two prior domestic battery convictions). The charges alleged generally that on April 26, 2021, defendant grabbed victim with whom he was in a dating relationship, by the neck and strangled and kicked her and further alleged that defendant was previously convicted in 2010 of aggravated domestic battery of an intimate partner in Macon County case No. 10-CF-893 and in 2016 for domestic battery of an intimate partner in Macon County case No. 16-CM-1163. The State subsequently amended the charges to allege a third prior conviction for domestic battery in Macon County case No. 17-CF-616. Forbes ruled that a jury should not hear about the previous convictions because the evidence would be too prejudicial to the Defendant. The Appellate Judges disagreed explaining that the applicable law provides when a defendant is charged with domestic battery, evidence of his commission of other offenses of domestic violence may be considered by the jury for any relevant matter, including the defendant's propensity to commit the charged crime.
Mendenhall for Circuit Judge - Press Release
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People v. Currie 2022 IL App (4th) 210598
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