Over the weekend I read an article about a 60 minutes episode about Cook County Jail and Sheriff Tom Dart. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart is in charge of running Cook County Jail, the largest single-site jail in the United States. After I finished reading the article, I was struck…
The main difference between a Civil Order of Protection and a Criminal Order of Protection has to do with how the person who is seeking the Order of Protection goes about getting the Order of Protection entered, or issued. An Order of Protection is a court order which bars someone…
Last week I had a trial for a Domestic Battery at the Bridgeview Courthouse in Cook County. My client had no criminal record whatsoever. He had been charged with committing a Domestic Battery on an ex-girlfriend (victim) during a consensual sexual encounter. The facts of the case were very strange.…
Many of the people that I have represented in my 27 years of being a criminal defense lawyer have no criminal record and have little, or no experience, with the criminal justice system. For many people, the thought of facing criminal charges can be a daunting and scary experience. In…
Illinois has some very strict laws, rules, and regulations involving DUI’s. I frequently get questions from clients asking about whether they should or should not take a breathalyzer when they are requested to by a police officer. There is no simple yes or no answer to that question. Whether someone…
Just like State laws create State crimes, and Federal laws create Federal crimes, individual towns, cities and villages also create laws, called Municipal Ordinances, which can give rise to charges alleging a violation of a Municipal Ordinance. I’ve been handling criminal cases for the past 27 years throughout Cook County,…
Today, the Chicago Tribune re-published a story that indicates that law enforcement authorities in Chicago may be losing the fight against gun crimes. Everyone is aware of the ridiculous number of gun related crimes in the city of Chicago. It is the subject of national news stories and was the…
This question cannot be answered with a simple yes or no answer. Unfortunately, the Illinois Unlawful Use of a Weapon (UUW) statute is a little complicated and requires an explanation. Another question I frequently get asked is: How do I legally transport a handgun in Illinois? Here it goes. To…
The short answer to this question is maybe. But whether you would be convicted of a Domestic Battery for simply slapping your child is a different question. This issue is a little complex so let me take a little time to explain what’s involved with this question. You could be…
Being arrested for a DUI can be a very confusing and stressful experience for most people. Based on my over-27 years of experience in handling DUI cases throughout Chicago, Cook County, DuPage County Kane County, and Lake County, I can tell you that most of the people that I have…