In rе M.I., a Minor (The People of the State of Illinois, Appellee, v. M.I., Appellant).
No. 113776
Supreme Court of Illinois
May 23, 2013
2013 IL 113776
Held Where a motion was made to designate a juvenile proceeding as an extended jurisdiction juvenile prosecution, the statute calling for a hearing on the motion within 60 days was directory rather than mandatory, and failure to hold the hearing within that time did not invalidate an adult sentence subsequently imposed after the granting of the motion—Apprendi challenge to extended jurisdiction juvenile statute rejected.
(Note: This syllabus constitutes no part of the opinion of the court but has been prepared by the Reporter of Decisions for the convenience of the reader.)
Decision Under Review Appeal from the Appellate Court for the First District; heard in that court on appeal from the Circuit Court of Cook County, the Hon. Terrence V. Sharkey, Judge, presiding.
Judgment Affirmed.
Lisa Madigan, Attorney General, of Springfield, and Anita Alvarez, State‘s Attorney, of Chicago (Alan J. Spellberg, Michelle Katz and Annette Collins, Assistant State‘s Attorneys, of counsel), for the People.
Lindsay E. Morgan, of DLA Piper LLP (US), of Chicago, for amicus curiae The Children and Family Justice Center.
Justices JUSTICE GARMAN delivered the judgment of the court, with opinion. Chief Justice Kilbride and Justices Freeman, Thomas, Karmeier, Burke, and Theis concurred in the judgment and opinion.
OPINION
¶ 1 Respondent, M.I., a minor, was adjudicated delinquent after the circuit court of Cook County found him guilty of three counts of aggravated discharge of a weapon and two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Prior to trial, the State filed a motion to designate the proceedings as an extended jurisdiction juvenile (EJJ) prosecution pursuant to the
¶ 2 BACKGROUND
¶ 3 A petition for adjudication of wardship was filed by the State against respondent on April 24, 2009. The petition charged respondent, 16 years old, with three counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm (
¶ 4 Respondent‘s case was continued severаl times before the EJJ hearing was actually held. On May 7, 2009, the cause was continued to May 21, 2009, for status, on the agreement of both parties. On May 21, 2009, the State asked for 30 days to be ready for the hearing and the cause was continued to June 22, 2009, for hearing on the State‘s EJJ motion, without objection from defense counsel. On June 22, 2009, respondent‘s new counsel filed his appearance and the public defender‘s office withdrew from the case. The State answered “not ready” for the hearing because it was still waiting for some of respondent‘s school records. Defense counsel did not object and suggested July 6 as the new date; the case was continued for status to July 6, 2009. On July 6, 2009, the cause was continued for the EJJ hearing to August 12, 2009, without objection.
¶ 5 The hearing on the State‘s motion for EJJ designation was held on August 12, 2009, 98 days after the filing of the motion. At the hearing, the State proffered evidence supporting “probable cause” for the charges against respondent. The proffer included a reсitation of what officers and witnesses would testify to if called to the stand concerning the basis for the charges. The defense also made a proffer as to what the officers and its witness would testify to that tended to favor the defense. The court then heard arguments from the parties on whether the State had established probable cause. The court found probable cause had been established. The hearing moved to the next phase for the court to determine whether there was clear and convincing evidence that the case should not be designated an EJJ prosecution. Here, the court was presented with evidence concerning: (1) the seriousness of the offense; (2) respondent‘s history of delinquency; (3) respondent‘s age; (4) the culpability of respondent in committing the offense; (5) whether the offense was committed in an aggressive or premeditated manner; and (6) whether respondent used or possessed a deadly weapon when committing thе offense.
¶ 6 On September 1, 2009, the trial court found that, based on respondent‘s being 16 years old at the time of the offense and probable cause being established for the serious charges against respondent, a rebuttable presumption had been created that the case should be designated an EJJ prosecution. Thus, absent clear and convincing evidence that a stayed adult sentence along with a juvenile sentence would not be appropriate, the case would receive an EJJ prosecution designation. Following a recitation of the evidence presented at the EJJ hearing, the court found no clear and convincing evidence that a stayed adult sentence would be inappropriate. The court also noted thаt respondent had a previous conviction for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in October 2008. Respondent was placed on probation for this conviction. The court granted the State‘s motion to designate the case an EJJ prosecution.
¶ 7 On October 15, 2009, respondent waived his right to a jury trial.2 Respondent again waived his right on November 20, 2009. At respondent‘s December 2009 bench trial, the evidence revealed that Chicago police responded to a large fight involving 30 to 40 individuals in April 2009. The officers were in plain clothes, but their police badges were displayed on the outside of their clothing. Upon arrival at the scene, Officer Kevin Kelly yelled, “police, stop, stop, stop.” Officer Kevin Kelly and Sergeant Thomas Mason testified that, moments after police arrived on scene, respondent fired multiple gunshots in their direction. The trial court found respondent guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of three counts of aggravated discharge of а firearm, two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and reckless discharge of a firearm. Respondent‘s sentencing hearing was held on February 25, 2010. The trial court, in denying respondent‘s motion for a new trial, vacated respondent‘s conviction for reckless discharge of a firearm, finding that the shooting could not be both reckless and intentional. The court then merged the third count of the aggravated discharge charge into the first count. The court also merged the two counts of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon into the first aggravated discharge of a firearm conviction. The court stated it was sentencing respondent based on the two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm. The court sentenced respondent “for an indeterminate period” to the juvenile IDOC to end no later than his twenty-first birthday. The court also imposed a 23-year adult sentence, which was stayed pending the successful completion of the juvenile sentence.
¶ 8 The appellate court affirmed respondent‘s conviction and sentence. 2011 IL App (1st) 100865. The court ruled that the evidence presented at trial was sufficient to find respondent guilty of aggravated discharge of a firearm. The court further found that the EJJ statutory provision setting forth a 60-day time frame for conducting a hearing on the State‘s motion to designate the case an EJJ prosecution was directory, not mandatory, and thus the failure to hold the hearing within 60 days in respondent‘s case did not vitiate the subsequent EJJ proceedings or stayed adult sentence. 2011 IL App (1st) 100865, ¶ 52. The appellate court also found that respondent did not have standing to challenge the revocation of the stay on
¶ 9 In March 2012 the State filed a petition to revoke respondent‘s stayed adult sentence pursuant to section 5-810(6) of the EJJ statute, alleging that respondent had committed a new offense, delivery of a controlled substance.
¶ 10 ANALYSIS
¶ 11 On appeal to this court, respondent raises three issues: (1) whether the requirement in the EJJ statute that the trial court hold a hearing on the State‘s motion to designate the case an EJJ prosecution within 60 days of the motion‘s filing is mandatory or directory; (2) whether the EJJ statute is unconstitutionally vague in how it defines the conduct that will invoke the imposition of the adult sentence and whether the statute fails to provide adequate guidance to authorities called upon to enforce its provisions; and (3) whether the EJJ statute violates Apprendi because it subjects a juvenile defendant to increased punishment without requiring a jury to find proof beyond a reasonable doubt as to the facts qualifying a juvenile defendant for EJJ prosecution.
¶ 12 I. The 60-Day Hearing Requirement
¶ 13 Respondent contends that the provision in the EJJ statute that, upon the State‘s filing of a motion to designate the juvenile case an EJJ prosecution, requires that a hearing to be held within 60 days of the motion‘s filing is mandatory. Respondent further argues that because the 60-day requirement is mandatory, an adult sentence imposed pursuant to an EJJ hearing held outside the 60-day limit is void. The State counters that the 60-day hearing requirement is merely directory, and that a properly imposed adult sentence, even if rendered pursuant to an EJJ hearing held outside the 60-day limit, is not void.
¶ 14 The statutory provision at issue states:
“(2) Procedures for extended jurisdiction juvenile prosecutions. The State‘s Attorney may file a written motion for a proceeding to be designated as an extended juvenile jurisdiction prior to commencement of trial. Notice of the motion shall be in compliance with Section 5-530. When the State‘s Attorney files a written motion that a proceeding be designated an extended jurisdiction juvenile prosеcution, the court shall commence a hearing within 30 days of the filing of the motion for designation, unless good cause is shown by the prosecution or the minor as to why the hearing could not be held within this time period. If the court finds good cause has been demonstrated, then the hearing shall be held within 60 days of the filing of the motion. The hearings shall be open to the public unless the judge finds that the hearing should be closed for the protection of any party, victim or witness. If the Juvenile Judge assigned to hear and determine a motion to designate an extended jurisdiction juvenile prosecution determines that there is probable cause to believe
that the allegations in the petition and motion are true, the court shall grant the motion for designation. Information used by the court in its findings or stated in or offered in connection with this Section may be by way of proffer based on reliable information offered by the State or the minor. All evidence shall be admissible if it is relevant and reliable regardless оf whether it would be admissible under the rules of evidence.”
705 ILCS 405/5-810(2) (West 2008) .
¶ 15 “Whether a statutory command is mandatory or directory is a question of statutory construction, which we review de novo.” People v. Robinson, 217 Ill. 2d 43, 54 (2005). When construing a statute, our primary objective is to ascertain and give effect to legislative intent, the surest and most reliable indicator of which is the statutory language itself, given its plain and ordinary meaning. People v. Giraud, 2012 IL 113116, ¶ 6. ” ‘In determining the plain meaning of statutory terms, we consider the statute in its entirety, keeping in mind the subject it addresses and the apparent intent of the legislature in enacting it.’ ” Id. (quoting People v. Perry, 224 Ill. 2d 312, 323 (2007)).
¶ 16 The parties agree that the question facing the court is whether the statutory provision is mandatory or directory, not mandatory or permissive. See People v. Delvillar, 235 Ill. 2d 507, 514 (2009) (“Resolution of this issue requires an explanation of two distinct questions that are, as this court has acknowledged, easily confused because they both contain the term ‘mandatory.’ “). Under the mandatory or directory question, “statutes are mandatory if the intent of the legislature dictates a particular consequence for failure to comply with the provision.” Id. However, in the absence of such legislative intent “the statute is directory and no particular consequence flows from noncompliance.” Id. at 515. There are consequences to a directory reading, but a directory reading “acknowledges only that no specific consequence is triggered by the failure to comply with the statute.” (Emphasis added.) Id. In other words, the mandatory/directory question ” ‘simply denotes whether the failure to comply with a particular procedural step will or will not have the effect of invalidating the governmental action to which the procedural requirement relates.’ ” Robinson, 217 Ill. 2d at 51-52 (quoting Morris v. County of Marin, 559 P.2d 606, 610-11 (Cal. 1977)).
¶ 17 “With respect to the mandatory/directory dichotomy, we presume that language issuing a procedural command to a government official indicates an intent that the statute is directory.” Delvillar, 235 Ill. 2d at 517. This presumption is overcome, and the provision will be read as mandatory, under either of two conditiоns: (1) when there is negative language prohibiting further action in the case of noncompliance or (2) when the right the provision is designed to protect would generally be injured under a directory reading. Id.
¶ 18 Neither condition applies in this case. First, concerning negative language, section 5-810(2) lacks any negative language prohibiting further action if the hearing is not held within 60 days of the motion‘s filing. There are no specific consequences prescribed in the provision at issue, or for that matter any other subsection of section 5-810, for the court‘s failure to hold a hearing on the State‘s EJJ prosecution motion within 60 days of the motion‘s filing. Respondent conceded as much at oral argument. After the sentence providing that the hearing must be held within 30 days of the motion‘s filing, or within 60 days if the court finds the State or the minor has shown good cause for why it could not be held within 30 days, the statute states that the hearing should be open to the public. The rest of the provision details
¶ 19 Although the provision states that “the court shall commence a hearing within 30 days of the filing of the motion for designation” (emphasis added) (
¶ 20 Similar to Robinson, the use of the word “shall” in section 5-810(2) does not indicate legislative intent to use negative language to make the provision mandatory. No specific consequences are detailed in the provision for failure to comply with the 60-day requirement. If the legislature had intended a different arrangement it could have written, for example, that аny adult sentence imposed pursuant to an EJJ sentence is void if the hearing on the motion is held more than 60 days after the filing of the State‘s motion. See Robinson, 217 Ill. 2d at 58. We agree with the conclusion reached by the appellate court in this case, that “[t]he statute does not prohibit the trial court from conducting a hearing on the State‘s motion if the 30- or 60-day time frame has passed nor does it provide for a result, such as, a dismissal of the State‘s motion, if a hearing occurs after the designated time frame.” 2011 IL App (1st) 100865, ¶ 51. The “negative language” exception does not apply to this case.
¶ 21 Respondent points to the use of “shall” and “may” in proximity to each other in section 5-810(6) to show that the legislature intended for “shall” to have a mandatory reading in the EJJ statute. Specifically, respondent cites to section 5-810(6)‘s provision that, when the court finds a juvenile defendant has committed a new offense, the court “shall order execution” of the adult sentence, whereas if the juvenile dеfendant violates a condition of the EJJ sentence, the court “may order execution of the adult sentence.” We disagree with respondent‘s interpretation. Respondent is confusing the mandatory/permissive dichotomy and the mandatory/directory dichotomy. In the case of section 5-810(6), “shall” is mandatory
¶ 22 We further find the Minnesota Appellate Court decision of In re Welfare of C.L.S., 558 N.W.2d 12 (Minn. Ct. App. 1997), overruled on other grounds by In re Welfare of D.M.D., 607 N.W.2d 432 (Minn. 2000), cited by respondent, to be distinguishable. The Minnesota EJJ statute stated that the trial court must hold an EJJ designation hearing within 30 days after the relief is requested, unless good cause is shown, and, if good cause is shown by the prosecution, the court may extend the hearing up to an additional 60 days. C.L.S., 558 N.W.2d at 13. However, the statute stated that “the hearing ‘shall be held’ within 90 days after the request is filed.” Id. The Minnesota court held that “shall be held” meant that the time limit was mandatory. Id. To support its mandatory reading, the court cited the following: (1) the statute‘s use of “shall“; (2) the fact that “time is of the essence in juvenile matters“; and (3) the failure of the statutory limit to contemplate for an enlargement of time beyond the 90-day period. Id. at 14. However, the court rejected the juvenile defendant‘s request for dismissal of the EJJ designation with prejudice, noting that the Minnesota EJJ statute provides for juvenile court jurisdiction over a juvenile defendant until he or she turns 21, and concluded that “[i]f a new petition is filed in this case before appellant reaches age 21, the juvenile court has continuing jurisdiction in the absence of a showing that delay has been purposefully caused to gain unfair advantage.” Id. The court held
“Because jurisdiction of the juvenile court for an EJJ certification in this case has not yet expired under current statutory law and the legislature has seen fit to state a mandatory time rule but to withhold statement of a sanction for untimely proceedings, we reverse and vacate the trial court‘s EJJ designation without prejudice.” Id.
¶ 23 We find C.L.S. to be distinguishable and unpеrsuasive in our analysis of the instant case. First, the court in C.L.S. appeared to place great importance on the use of “shall” in the statute. Id. at 13 (“It is evident, as appellant argues, that the statutory time limit in Minn. Stat. § 260.126, subd. 2, is stated in mandatory terms. The hearing ‘shall be held’ within the prescribed 90 day period.“). In our own case law, however, whenever the mandatory/directory dichotomy is at issue, the word “shall” is not determinative. Robinson, 217 Ill. 2d at 54. Further, the Minnesota statute at issue in C.L.S. appears to be fundamentally
¶ 24 We next ask whether the right that the statute intends to protect would be generally injured by a directory reading of the statute. Delvillar, 235 Ill. 2d at 518. However, before determining if the right to be protected would be generally injured by a directory reading of the statute, we must first determine what right the statute intends to protect. At oral argument, respondent contended that the right intended to be protected by the 60-day time frame was the respondent‘s right to have time to prepare and receive advice on legal strategy. The State, at oral argument, argued that the right to be protected was that the juvenile not be held in unnecessarily lengthy detention beyond a reasonable period of time and that the hearing take place in a reasonable amount of time before the trial. We agree with the appellate court that “[t]he right to be protected here is the right of a minor respondent to receive a hearing before being subject to an EJJ proceeding and a stayed adult sentence.” 2011 IL App (1st) 100865, ¶ 52. The 60-day limit ensures that the hearing will be held in some reasonable time after the motion‘s filing and before the trial.
¶ 25 Respondent argues that his right to a fair hearing would be generally injured by a directory reading. Respondent argues that allowing a hearing to be held “indefinitely” outside the time limit puts the juvenile defendant in a state of uncertainty and affects his counsel‘s advice and preparation before trial. However, this uncertainty would exist even under a mandatory reading, because the EJJ statute allows the State to “file[ ] a petition, at any time prior to commencement of the minor‘s trial, to designate the proceeding” an EJJ prosecution.
¶ 26 Respondent further argues that the State could use a directory reading as a litigation tactic to inducе guilty pleas and also that a directory reading may lead to unnecessary delays. A proposed mandatory reading, however, could also lead to litigation tactics by the parties. A mandatory reading may force the State to “refile” an EJJ motion if a hearing could not be held within 60 days, and could end up allowing for dilatory tactics by a juvenile defendant who could intentionally delay the proceedings to put the hearing outside the 60-day limit. Further, a juvenile defendant could be harmed under a mandatory reading because concern over the 60-day limit could prevent the court from granting a continuance requested by the juvenile. Next, as to “unnecessary delay,” we agree with the State that, under a directory reading, the trial court can maintain sufficient control over the proceedings to prevent the parties from occasioning purposeful delay through unwarranted continuances. A mandatory reading would remove discretion and control from thе trial court, and (1) force the parties
¶ 27 Respondent‘s right to receive a hearing before being subject to an EJJ proceeding and a stayed adult sentence was not injured. The statute provides that the juvenile defendant is entitled to notice of the EJJ motion filing and a hearing on the motion.
¶ 28 We presume that language issuing a procedural command to a governmеnt official indicates an intent that the statute is directory. Delvillar, 235 Ill. 2d at 517. Because the EJJ statute does not contain negative language prohibiting further action in the case of noncompliance and the right the provision is designed to protect is not injured by a directory reading, we hold that section 5-810(2)‘s requirement that a hearing on the State‘s EJJ designation motion be held within 60 days is directory. See id.
¶ 29 II. Vagueness
¶ 30 Respondent contends that the EJJ statute is unconstitutionally vague because it does not provide fair warning to the juvenile defendant of the conduct that will invoke the imposition of the stayed adult sentence. Respondent also argues that the statute fails to provide adequate guidance to authorities called upon to enforce its provisions. The State responds that the EJJ statute is neither facially vague nor is it vague as applied to respondent. The State further argues that respondent lacks standing to challenge the constitutionality of the EJJ statute on vagueness grounds.
¶ 31 Befоre addressing respondent‘s vagueness arguments on the merits, we must first determine whether respondent has standing to bring this constitutional challenge. Here, the State argues that, because the EJJ sentence has yet to actually be executed, respondent has yet to suffer any injury and he has yet to have, and may never have, his adult sentence enforced. Respondent counters that since the petition to revoke the stay of adult sentence has been filed, he is in immediate danger of sustaining a direct injury as a result of the statute‘s enforcement, and thus has standing.
¶ 32 “The purpose of the doctrine of standing is to ensure that courts are deciding actual, specific controversies, and not abstract questions or moot issues.” In re Marriage of Rodriguez, 131 Ill. 2d 273, 279-80 (1989). In order to have standing to bring a constitutional challenge, a person must show himself to be within the class aggrieved by the alleged unconstitutionality. People v. Morgan, 203 Ill. 2d 470, 482 (2003), overruled on other grounds by People v. Sharpe, 216 Ill. 2d 481 (2005). “The general rule is that courts will not consider the validity of a statutory provision unless the person challenging the prоvision is directly affected by it or the unconstitutional feature is so pervasive as to render the entire statute invalid.” Morgan, 203 Ill. 2d at 482; People v. Palkes, 52 Ill. 2d 472, 480 (1972).
¶ 33 In the instant case, the State has filed a petition to revoke the stay of the adult sentence. Thus, we need nоt decide whether the filing of a petition to revoke is necessary in every case for a juvenile to have standing to challenge the constitutionality of section 5-810(6) of the EJJ statute. Further, we need not address the State‘s contention that standing cannot arise until such a petition is actually granted because the respondent in the present case would lack standing even if the petition to revoke had been granted.
¶ 34 “A party may not raise a constitutional challenge to a provision of a statute that does not affect him or her.” In re Veronica C., 239 Ill. 2d 134, 147 (2010); People v. Malchow, 193 Ill. 2d 413, 425 (2000); Rogers, 133 Ill. 2d at 15. However, that person may raise a constitutional objection to the other part where its invalidity will render the entire statute void. People v. Mayberry, 63 Ill. 2d 1, 6 (1976). The State notes in its brief that “the petition to revoke was based solely on respondent‘s commission of a new felony offense” and that “[t]he State has never alleged that respondent violated any of the ‘conditions’ of his juvenile term.” Therefore, if the basis for the respondent‘s challengе to the statute‘s constitutionality does not pertain to the basis for the revocation of the adult sentence contained in the actual petition, respondent will not have standing.
¶ 35 In Veronica C., the juvenile defendant attacked the constitutionality, on separation of powers grounds, of the statute that prevented the juvenile defendant from being placed on supervision by the court without the consent of the State. This court found the juvenile defendant had no standing to make the constitutional claim, however, because her counsel‘s failure to raise the possibility of supervision prior to the court‘s finding of guilt meant that the juvenile defendant would not be entitled to supervision under the statute, regardless of whether the State‘s Attorney objected at sentencing. We found that “[t]he State‘s objection thereto during the phases that followed was irrelevant and thus did not adversely affect respondent.” Veronica C., 239 Ill. 2d at 147. We concluded that “respondent lacks standing to challenge the constitutionаlity of the statutory provision in question because she was not adversely affected by its operation.” Id. at 150.
¶ 36 We find the present case analogous to the situation presented in Veronica C. Even if the filing of the petition to revoke the stay on the adult sentence conferred standing on respondent to challenge the constitutional validity of the revocation provision of the EJJ statute, respondent‘s constitutional objection must still pertain to the part of the statute that affects him. See id. at 147. The EJJ statute allows for two ways in which the stay of the adult
¶ 37 III. Apprendi Violation
¶ 38 Respondent next argues that the EJJ statute is unconstitutional because it violates his right to due process as articulated in Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466 (2000), in that the facts that qualify the juvenile for EJJ prosecution are not required to be submitted to a jury for determination or proved beyond a reasonable doubt. The State counters that Apprendi does not apply to EJJ prosecutions, as the statute is dispositional, not adjudicatory, and that, even if Apprendi did apply, there is no Apprendi violation because the adult sentence imposed is determined only based on factors proven to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt.
¶ 39 Before addressing the merits of respondent‘s Apprendi claim, we must first address the State‘s forfeiture argument. The State argues that respondent has forfeited the Apprendi issue because he did not raise it in the trial court, appellate court, or in his petition for leave to appeal to this court. The first time respondent raised Apprendi was in his opening brief in this court. Indeed, failure to raise an issue in a petition for leave to appeal results in the forfeiture of that issue before this court. People v. McCarty, 223 Ill. 2d 109, 122 (2006). “However, as this court has noted in the past, a challenge to the constitutionality of a statute may be raised at any time.” Id. at 123. Therefore, we will address respondent‘s Apprendi claim on the merits. Whether the EJJ statute violates Apprendi presents a question of law, which we will review de novo. People v. Hopkins, 201 Ill. 2d 26, 36 (2002).
¶ 40 In Apprendi, the United States Supreme Court “held a criminal defendant has the right to insist that any fact, other than the fact of a prior conviction, that increases his punishment
” ‘[T]he statutory maximum’ for Apprendi purposes is the maximum sentence a judge may impose solely on the basis of the facts reflected in the jury verdict or admitted by the defendant. [Citations.] In other words, the relevant ‘statutory maximum’ is not the maximum sentence a judge may impose after finding additional facts, but the maximum he may impose without any additional findings. When a judge inflicts punishment that the jury‘s verdict alone does not allow, the jury has not found all the facts ‘which the law makes essential to the punishment,’ [citation], and the judge exceeds his authority.” (Emphases in original.) Id. at 303-04.
¶ 41 The provision of the EJJ statute relating to respondent‘s Apprendi argument states:
“(1)(a) If the State‘s Attorney files a petition, at any time prior to commencement of the minor‘s trial, to designatе the proceeding as an extended jurisdiction juvenile prosecution and the petition alleges the commission by a minor 13 years of age or older of any offense which would be a felony if committed by an adult, and, if the juvenile judge assigned to hear and determine petitions to designate the proceeding as an extended jurisdiction juvenile prosecution determines that there is probable cause to believe that the allegations in the petition and motion are true, there is a rebuttable presumption that the proceeding shall be designated as an extended jurisdiction juvenile proceeding.
(b) The judge shall enter an order designating the proceeding as an extended jurisdiction juvenile proceeding unless the judge makes a finding based on clear and convincing evidence that sentencing under the Chapter V of the Unified Code of Corrections would not be appropriate for the minor based on an evaluation of the following factors:
(i) the age of the minor;
(ii) the history of the minor, including:
(A) any previous delinquent or criminal history of the minor,
(B) any previous abuse or neglect history of the minor, and
(C) any mental health, physical and/or educational history of the minor;
(iii) the circumstances of the offense, including:
(A) the seriousness of the offense,
(B) whether the minor is charged through accountability,
(C) whether there is evidence the offense was committed in an aggressive and premeditated manner,
(D) whether there is evidence the offense caused serious bodily harm,
(E) whether there is evidence the minor possessed a deadly weapon;
(iv) the advantages of treatment within the juvenile justice system including whether there are facilities or programs, or both, particularly available in the juvenile system;
(v) whether the security of the public requires sentencing under Chapter V of the Unified Code of Corrections:
(A) the minor‘s history of services, including the minor‘s willingness to participate meaningfully in available services;
(B) whether there is a reasonable likelihood that the minor can be rehabilitated before the expiration of the juvenile court‘s jurisdiction;
(C) the adequacy of the punishment or services.
In considering these factors, the court shall give greater weight to the seriousness of the alleged offense and the minor‘s prior record of delinquency than to other factors listed in this subsection.”
705 ILCS 405/5-810(1) (West 2008) .
¶ 42 In determining whether there is probable cause to believe the allegations in the State‘s motion, the juvenile court judge may receive information by way of proffer. This information is to be based on reliable information provided by the State or the minor, and all evidence is admissible if it is relevant and reliable, regardless of whether it would be admissible under the rules of evidence.
¶ 43 Our appellate court has been uniform in holding that the EJJ statute does not violate Apprendi. In re Christopher K., 217 Ill. 2d 348, 363 (2005); see In re Omar M., 2012 IL App (1st) 100866, ¶¶ 48-65; In re Christopher K., 348 Ill. App. 3d 130, 143 (2004); In re J.W., 346 Ill. App. 3d 1, 10-12 (2004); In re Matthew M., 335 Ill. App. 3d 276, 289 (2002). The appellate cases found that Apprendi did not apply to the EJJ statute because the EJJ statute was not an adjudicatory statute, but rather a dispositional one, in that “it does not determine a respondent‘s guilt or the specific sentence.” Omar M., 2012 IL App (1st) 100866, ¶ 59; J.W., 346 Ill. App. 3d at 11-12 (finding EJJ statute does not violate Apprendi because it did
¶ 44 We agree with the reasoning put forth by our appellate court. The Apprendi decision requires that “any fact that increases the penalty for a crime beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted to a jury, and proved beyond a reasonable doubt.” Apprendi, 530 U.S. at 490. Nothing in the EJJ statute runs afoul of Apprendi. An EJJ designation merely assigns the case a status of being serious enough that an adult sentence can be imposed if the juvenile defendant pleads or is found guilty. There is nothing in the EJJ statute that allows a defendant to be sentenced above the statutory maximum based on factors not proven to a trier of fact beyond a reasonable doubt. The statute even provides that, unlike in other juvenile cases, a defendant is eligible to have his or her case determined by a jury.
¶ 45 Respondent contends that cases such as Matthew M. and J.W. are outdated because they came out before the United States Supreme Court‘s decision in Blakely. Respondent argues that Blakely shows the “true teaching of Apprendi and its progeny is that due process is violated when an accused receives a sentence in excess оf that which he could have received based on the fact finder‘s verdict alone” and that since respondent‘s 23-year sentence was in excess of the juvenile sentence, the facts which increased his punishment were required to be submitted to a jury and proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
¶ 46 We disagree that the EJJ statute is unconstitutional under Blakely. We have already held that the EJJ statute is dispositional, not adjudicatory, in nature. However, even if we were to apply Blakely and Apprendi to the EJJ statute, there is still no violation. Respondent cites to the fact that the 23-year sentence was in excess of the authorized juvenile sentence. However, for the purposes of Apprendi, the statutory maximum is not the juvenile sentence under the Juvenile Court Act, but rather the maximum sentence allowed by the offense
¶ 47 Further, the United States Supreme Court has cautioned about extending Apprendi to areas that have been the historic domain of the states. Oregon v. Ice, 555 U.S. 160, 170-71 (2009) (“States’ interest in the development of their penal systems, and their historic dominion in this area, also counsel against the extension of Apprendi that [defendant] requests. Beyond question, the authority of States over the administration of their criminal justice system lies at the core of their sovereign status. [Citation.] We have long recognized the role of the States as laboratories for devising solutions to difficult legal problems.“). In the area of juvenile law, “[t]he Supreme Court has traditionally given states wider latitude in adopting particular trial and sentencing procedures for juveniles—including whether to have a jury trial at all.” State v. Rudy B., 243 P.3d 726, 735 (N.M. 2010) (citing McKeiver v. Pennsylvania, 403 U.S. 528, 550 (1971) (plurality op.) (holding that the right to a jury trial does not apply to juvenile proceedings)). A number of our sister states have rejected the application of Apprendi to juvenile court and sentencing schemes. See Rudy B., 243 P.3d at 740 (holding that applying Apprendi to New Mexico‘s posttrial determination of whether a juvenile should receive an adult or juvenile sentence, based on factors found by the judge after a trial, “would interfere unnecessarily with New Mexico‘s traditional discretion in administering a system of juvenile justice“); State v. Read, 938 A.2d 953, 960 (N.J. 2008) (holding that the mere fact that a judge‘s determination of whether a juvenile‘s case should be tried in juvenile or adult court “can impact the length of a potential sentence does not convert that decision into a part of the sentencing process which under Apprendi and Blakely requires jury fact-finding beyond a reasonable doubt. This conclusion is supported by the decisions of every federal and state court that has considered the issue. [Citations.]“). While certainly possible that a state‘s juvenile court and sentencing system could violate Apprendi, the governing trend appears to recommend great caution when applying Apprendi in the juvenile court realm.
¶ 48 Therefore, we conclude that Apprendi does not apply to the EJJ statute, as it is dispositional, not adjudicatory, in nature. However, even if we were to apply Apprendi, the
¶ 49 CONCLUSION
¶ 50 The requirement that the court hold a hearing on the State‘s EJJ prosecution-designation petition within 60 days of the petition‘s filing is directory. Therefore, the court‘s failure to hold a hearing within the 60-day requirement does not void the stayed adult sentence. Further, respondent does not have standing to challenge the EJJ statute as unconstitutionally vague. Finally, the EJJ statute does not violate due process under the United States Supreme Court‘s decision in Apprendi. For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the appellate court is affirmed.
¶ 51 Affirmed.