In this case, a disgruntled defendant on a judge’s probation left an anonymous message on the voice mail of a Cook County Assistant Public Defender wishing that a number of people, including the named judge, would suffer death and destruction.
The Defendant’s identity was discovered and he was prosecuted and convicted for threatening same said judge.
The Appellate court reversed, noting that wishing something bad would happen to someone, including death, was not the same thing as threatening to make said demise happen (without more).
The Court also noted that there was no reason for the defendant to believe his communication would actually be transmitted to the judge.
So, his conviction for both reasons was reversed.
The case is People v. Alexander Wood
http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Opinions/AppellateCourt/2017/1stDistrict/1143135.pdf