If you are charged with a felony criminal offense in Illinois, you need to know what you are being charged with and what class felony that criminal charge is classified as. Generally, felonies in Illinois are categorized into one of the four classes of felonies in Illinois. Depending on which…
Articles Posted in Criminal Cases
What’s a Misdemeanor in Illinois and What Can it Mean for Your Future?
If you are charged with a Misdemeanor crime in Illinois, you need to understand what a Misdemeanor is and what the implications could be for your future. A Felony criminal charge is much more severe than a Misdemeanor criminal charge. But that doesn’t mean that a Misdemeanor is not a…
When Can Speeding Be a Crime in Illinois?
I frequently receive phone calls from clients who have received a speeding ticket for driving at a high rate of speed. While speaking with these clients, it is not uncommon for me to find out that they were driving at such a high rate of speed that I need to…
Supreme Court Expands Privacy Rights for Cell Phones
In a closely-watched decision regarding the privacy rights of cell phone users and the power of the police to obtain cell phone tracking information, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the police must obtain a warrant before obtaining the tracking information for the cell phones for most cellphone users.…
What is Double Jeopardy? Can I Be Retried Again?
I recently met with a client who had a jury trial for a Domestic Battery charge. After several days of a trial and deliberations, the jury could not agree on a verdict and the judge declared a mistrial. Shortly after the mistrial was declared, the prosecution decided that they would…
Supreme Court Issues Opinions on 4th and 5th Amendment Cases
Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court issued several opinions on cases that had been closely watched by observers. The case that has received most of the public attention involves legalized sports betting. But lost in the coverage was the release of two opinions involving the 4th and 5th Amendment rights…
Does My Lawyer Have to Give Me Copies of the Police Reports for my Case?
Last week I had a meeting with a client in my office in Schaumburg who was being charged with a felony in Rolling Meadows. The client has a lawyer who was representing him for the case. The client came in for a consultation because he was not happy with the…
Can I Be Arrested for Speeding?
In the past several weeks, I have spoken to several clients who were arrested for Aggravated or Excessive Speeding and were charged with a crime. Most of the people I spoke to did not realize that they could be arrested for speeding. Many people do not understand the Illinois speeding…
When Can the Police Search My Car?
It is common to have a client come into my office who is facing criminal charges resulting from a search of their vehicle by a police officer. Many of those clients want to know whether the police had the right to search their vehicle and whether I can have the…
Reliability of Eyewitness Testimony
There was a time when eyewitness testimony was considered the best evidence in a criminal case. But recent scientific developments have cast doubt on the reliability of eyewitness testimony. Surveys of jurors in criminal cases show that jurors place great weight on the testimony of eyewitnesses. This can be dangerous…