all-or-nothing defense (Illinois) · Go Syfert
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all-or-nothing defense in Illinois

11 Illinois opinions name it 1 courts 2005–2025 5 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Illinois courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (5)

CaseFollowedCited
People v. Waltongreen
illappct · 2007 · cited in 6 Illinois opinions naming this issue, 2017–2023
2 sentences

2023There, the court ruled that advancing an all-or- nothing defense “[h]as been recognized as a valid trial strategy and is generally not unreasonable unless that strategy is based on counsel’s misapprehension of the law.” (Internal quotations omitted.) People v. Neasom, 2017 IL App (1st) 143875, ¶ 43 (quoting People v. Spiller, 2016 IL App (1st) 133389 , ¶ 39, and People v. Walton, 378 Ill.

2021Courts have “repeatedly recognized that the decision to pursue an all-or- nothing defense is a ‘valid trial strategy.’ ” People v. Jackson, 2018 IL App (1st) 150487, ¶ 29 (quoting People v. Walton, 378 Ill.

36
People v. Jacksongreen
illappct · 2018 · cited in 2 Illinois opinions naming this issue, 2021–2021
2 sentences

2021People v. Jackson, 2018 IL App (1st) 150487, ¶ 29 .

2021Courts have “repeatedly recognized that the decision to pursue an all-or- nothing defense is a ‘valid trial strategy.’ ” People v. Jackson, 2018 IL App (1st) 150487, ¶ 29 (quoting People v. Walton, 378 Ill.

12
People v. De La Pazgreen
ill · 2003 · cited in 1 Illinois opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025See People v. De La Paz, 204 Ill. 2d 426, 433 (2003) (addressing the merits of an issue when the State failed to argue forfeiture). ¶ 19 Although an alibi can be strong in the right circumstances, it tends to be an all-or-nothing defense; jurors are skeptical when defense counsel suggests both that the defendant was in another state at the time of the attack and that the State has failed to prove that the attack was more than a minor disagreement.

11
People v. Rangelgreen
illappct · 1982 · cited in 1 Illinois opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025Cf. People v. Rangel, 104 Ill.

11
People v. Neasomgreen
illappct · 2017 · cited in 1 Illinois opinions naming this issue, 2023–2023
2 sentences

2023There, the court ruled that advancing an all-or- nothing defense “[h]as been recognized as a valid trial strategy and is generally not unreasonable unless that strategy is based on counsel’s misapprehension of the law.” (Internal quotations omitted.) People v. Neasom, 2017 IL App (1st) 143875, ¶ 43 (quoting People v. Spiller, 2016 IL App (1st) 133389 , ¶ 39, and People v. Walton, 378 Ill.

2023There, the court ruled that advancing an all-or- nothing defense “[h]as been recognized as a valid trial strategy and is generally not unreasonable unless that strategy is based on counsel’s misapprehension of the law.” (Internal quotations omitted.) People v. Neasom, 2017 IL App (1st) 143875, ¶ 43 (quoting People v. Spiller, 2016 IL App (1st) 133389 , ¶ 39, and People v. Walton, 378 Ill.

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Illinois. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (4)

CaseCitedYears
People v. Spiller green
illappct · 2016
2 sentences

2023There, the court ruled that advancing an all-or- nothing defense “[h]as been recognized as a valid trial strategy and is generally not unreasonable unless that strategy is based on counsel’s misapprehension of the law.” (Internal quotations omitted.) People v. Neasom, 2017 IL App (1st) 143875, ¶ 43 (quoting People v. Spiller, 2016 IL App (1st) 133389 , ¶ 39, and People v. Walton, 378 Ill.

2018Furthermore, counsel’s decision to advance an all-or-nothing defense has been recognized as a valid trial strategy “ ‘and is generally not unreasonable unless that strategy is based upon counsel’s misapprehension of the law.’ ” Spiller, 2016 IL App (1st) 133389 , ¶ 39 (quoting Walton, 378 Ill.

32017–2023
People v. Wright green
ill · 1986
2 sentences

2005Wright , 111 Ill. 2d at 22-24 , 488 N.E.2d at 975-76 .

2005Wright , 111 Ill. 2d at 22-24 , 488 N.E.2d at 975-76 .

22005–2005
People v. Lemke green
illappct · 2004
1 sentence

2023Id. ¶ 44 In his brief, Jackson asserts that George Jackson’s decision to pursue an all-or-nothing claim of self-defense was objectively unreasonable, arguing: “Viewing the video, it is clear that [Jackson]’s actions exceeded the bounds of pure self- defense.

12023–2023
People v. Wilmington green
ill · 2013
1 sentence

2021People v. Wilmington, 2013 IL 112938, ¶ 48 . - 12 - 2021 IL App (2d) 200185-U ¶ 52 Further, a decision to pursue an all-or-nothing defense is a valid trial strategy.

12021–2021

Statutes the citing opinions construe

IL § 720 ILCS 5/8-4 (3) IL § 720 ILCS 5/9-1 (3) IL § 720 ILCS 5/9-2 (3)

Counted by distinct opinions that both name this issue and are annotated to the section; sections every opinion cites regardless of issue are not filtered here, so read the counts against the total above.

Where else courts name it

GA 29 (1996–2026) CA 19 (1976–2021) MI 14 (1975–2025) AZ 13 (1991–2023) IL 11 (2005–2025) OH 10 (1996–2024) NM 7 (1988–2021) MA 6 (2002–2024) NV 6 (1970–2016) NY 4 (1979–2026) KS 3 (2004–2021) MO 3 (2016–2024) TX 2 (1980–1991) DE 2 (2021–2026) IN 2 (2016–2019) UT 2 (1996–2021)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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