Chicago Criminal Defense Blog

Criminal Defense
November 9th, 2020

Can I be Arrested for Road Rage in Chicago?

You’re driving down the street minding your own business when seemingly out of nowhere, another car cuts you off. You jam on your brakes to avoid an accident and as the other driver pulls away, he gives you “the finger”. Or you’re cruising down the Kennedy Expressway through Chicago when another car seems to be...

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Criminal Defense
October 20th, 2020

Can Shoplifting Happen by Accident?

An 81 year old Chicago man was recently arrested in Arlington Heights and charged with the criminal offense of Retail Theft (also known as shoplifting). Whereas a “regular” theft involves taking something of value from another person without permission or authority, a retail theft involves taking something of value from a retail establishment. That place...

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Criminal Defense
October 12th, 2020

Can CPD Arrest Me with No Evidence?

We are often called by clients who were recently arrested or who have an outstanding warrant for their arrest and asked “how are they going to arrest me with no evidence?” Well, if you’ve already been arrested, the answer is simple: they just did. That’s how. But keep in mind that an arrest or a...

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Criminal Defense
October 5th, 2020

Should You Go in For Police Questioning?

You get a call from the Police. They’d just like you to come down to the station and answer a few questions. That’s all. You’re not in trouble, the officer says. Don’t worry. They just need to clear up a few things that they have questions about and to hear your side of the story....

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Criminal Defense
September 21st, 2020

Can I Represent Myself in Chicago Criminal Court?

People charged with criminal and traffic matters in Chicago and in other courts across the state of Illinois ask us this question often. After all, money is tight for many people these days and if it’s possible to do something yourself and end up with the same result, many people would like to do that....

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Criminal Defense
September 14th, 2020

Guide to Zoom Court Proceedings

At least for the foreseeable future, it appears that video conferencing apps such as Zoom will be a part of the legal landscape. When the worldwide pandemic hit early this year, everyone and everything was affected, including the court systems in Chicago and all Northern Illinois counties such as Cook, Lake, DuPage, Will, Kane and...

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Criminal Defense
September 7th, 2020

Prosecutors and Plea Negotiations

When a person is charged with a criminal or traffic matter in Illinois, the defendant’s attorney will typically seek out the state’s attorney or local prosecutor in an attempt to negotiate a plea agreement and avoid a trial if at all possible. Then, depending upon the negotiating skills of the defense attorney, the receptiveness of...

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Criminal Defense
August 31st, 2020

Zoom Court – for Better or Worse?

Our court system (as well as our society in general) was completely unprepared for a pandemic. Few people in government and science had the forethought to anticipate the devastation that a disease like Covid could visit upon us, and of those who spoke up, most seem to have been largely ignored. So, when the tidal...

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Criminal Defense
August 10th, 2020

Mandatory Insurance Laws in Illinois – Part 2

If you did not read part 1, you can find that information here. What Will Happen to me in Court? Typically, if this is your first instance of this traffic offense, our legal team will be able to negotiate with the prosecutor and get you just a small fine and a sentence of supervision, which...

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Written by Mitchell S. Sexner Last Updated : February 8, 2022