People v. Moore, 161 N.E.3d 125

Leslie Moore was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon after a 2013 traffic stop; his only prior felony was a 1990 murder conviction.
At trial the prosecutor, judge, and defense counsel proceeded on the (mistaken) view that the jury must be told the nature of the prior felony; the jury was expressly told Moore had been convicted of murder.
The State’s case relied largely on Deputy Hannon’s testimony that Moore appeared nervous, moved toward the center console, and admitted there was a loaded firearm; video lacked exterior audio and did not clearly corroborate the officer’s account.
Moore and a defense witness (Sherry Walls) testified the gun belonged to Walls and had been left in Moore’s car; Walls produced a receipt matching the gun’s serial number.
The appellate court affirmed, finding no Strickland prejudice; the Illinois Supreme Court granted review, held counsel was ineffective for not stipulating to felon status, found prejudice because the evidence was closely balanced, reversed, and remanded for further proceedings (no double jeopardy bar).

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Whether counsel was ineffective for failing to stipulate to felon status and thereby permitting the jury to hear that Moore’s prior conviction was for murder	No prejudicial error: even with a stipulation jurors would infer a serious prior, and Deputy Hannon’s testimony (including an alleged admission) made conviction likely	Counsel’s failure allowed highly prejudicial prior‑murder evidence that was unnecessary to prove felon status and likely influenced the jury	Defense counsel’s performance was objectively unreasonable under Strickland; prejudice shown because the case was closely balanced; conviction reversed and remanded
Whether double jeopardy bars a new trial after reversal	The evidence was sufficient to support conviction originally; retrial would not be barred	Moore did not contest sufficiency or claim double jeopardy prevented retrial	Double jeopardy does not bar a new trial; sufficient evidence existed to permit retrial

Old Chief v. United States, 519 U.S. 172 (evidence of the name and nature of a prior conviction is generally excludable under Rule 403 where a stipulation will prove felon status)
People v. Walker, 211 Ill. 2d 317 (adopting Old Chief in Illinois; prior‑conviction name/nature should be excluded when stipulation suffices)
Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (ineffective assistance standard: deficient performance and prejudice)
People v. Domagala, 2013 IL 113688 (applying Strickland in Illinois ineffective‑assistance review)
People v. Diggins, 235 Ill. 2d 48 (double jeopardy/new‑trial framework)