The holiday season is upon us. Over the next few months, people will be celebrating Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s. Many will celebrate the special occasions with alcoholic beverages, and some may use these festivities as opportunities for throwing caution to the wind. However, this means that more police officers than usual will...
Read MoreWhen many people think of the court system in the United States, they immediately picture prosecutors and defense attorneys arguing in front of a jury during a courthouse trial. However, the overwhelming majority of legal conflicts conclude without ever going to trial. Negotiating and accepting plea agreements is a far more common occurrence than you...
Read MoreMany people have only a vague idea of what happens when they are arrested. Many misconceptions abound, at least partly due to inaccurate depictions in film and television. Illinois citizens can benefit greatly from an increased awareness of the facts, and one can never be too cautious when it comes to legal matters. The professionals...
Read MoreWhat is a Motion? Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute defines a motion as a “request to a court for a desired ruling or order.” There are many times in the course of both criminal and civil proceedings, when a lawyer will want the court to take a specific action. The attorney may also want...
Read MoreThe Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution defends “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.” Of course, there are exceptions where police officers have the legal authority to perform such actions, even without a warrant. In the past, we have covered...
Read MoreWhen people think of the trial process, many people picture heated arguments between prosecutors and defense attorneys, the presentation of evidence, the cross-examination of witnesses and the verdict from a jury. However, court proceedings always begin well before all of that. If the defendant is charged with a felony, he or she may have been...
Read MoreAt this point in history, Illinois law considers cannabis, or marijuana, a less harmful drug than other controlled substances. People are even legally allowed to possess it if they complete the process of applying for the state’s medical marijuana registry. With that said, marijuana remains illegal for recreational use, and anyone caught possessing it for...
Read MoreAre DUIs Public Record? Convictions for driving under the influence will appear on your record if someone files a request with the Illinois State Police Bureau of Identification. The Uniform Conviction Information Act states the public can access a person’s history of run-ins with the law - but people may only see convictions, not arrests...
Read MoreCell phones and other handheld devices are now seemingly ubiquitous in the daily life of Illinois citizens and the country as a whole. We use them to communicate with friends and loved ones, conduct business, stay updated on current events, and a range of other activities. Unfortunately, this means that many people feel compelled to...
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