My attorney is asking me for a copy of my Court Purposes Driver’s Abstract. What is it, and why are they asking me for it? A Court Purposes Driver's Abstract (also called an “Affected” Abstract) is an official certified document that’s issued by the Illinois Secretary of State showing an individual’s complete driving history. An...
Read MoreDriving on a suspended or revoked license is a serious crime that is generally punishable by up to a year in jail. Sometimes, depending on why your license was taken away in the first place, it can even be a felony, which is a crime punishable by more than a year in jail. But just...
Read MoreWhat is the Illinois Statute That Deals With Expunging Records? Under the Illinois Statute (20 ILCS 2630/5.2), many people have the chance to expunge or seal their past criminal records in order to clear their names once and for all. In fact, expunging and sealing records has become easier than ever before. Since 2017, when...
Read MoreI thought marijuana was legal …can I still be arrested? As of January 1, 2020, the State of Illinois signed a law that allows adults, 21 years of age and older, to purchase cannabis products for medical and recreational use from licensed dispensaries in Illinois. However, don’t let this law fool you! Legalizing marijuana is...
Read MoreThe adage “what you don’t know, can’t hurt you,” has been proven wrong time and time again. As the author, Margaret Atwood once said, “sometimes what you don’t know can hurt you very much.” We all think of laws as coming from the State legislature and Congress, but when is the last time you or...
Read MoreWe have seen them on TV shows, movies, and in newspapers but few people understand the full role of a prosecutor in the criminal justice system. We will look at Cook County and the Cook County States Attorney Office, which represents a common lay out of prosecutor offices across the United States. The Cook County...
Read MoreIt is hard to miss former President Donald Trump’s name in the news nowadays – with indictments and legal troubles seeming to mount from all sides. With headlines blaring “Mr. Trump indicted,” and “District Attorney Alvin Bragg files indictment against Mr. Trump,” it is easy to get caught up in the legal jargon. So, what...
Read MoreFor many criminal and traffic clients, a waiver of criminal court assessments may be the first stroke of luck they have with criminal courts (a “waiver” is when the Judge agrees to forgive or ignore some of your fees). The U.S. Census Bureau reveals that 12.1 percent of Illinoisians are experiencing poverty, which translates into...
Read MoreSometimes when a police car turns on their lights to pull someone over, they choose not to stop. Generally, not a great idea, but people refuse to pull over for a variety of reasons, including: They have drugs in their car; They have guns or other weapons in their car; They are intoxicated or under...
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