§ 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.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 99-778, eff. 1-1-17 .)