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...
Read MoreZoom 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...
Read MoreMandatory 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...
Read MoreMandatory Insurance Laws in Illinois – Part 1
Every city in Illinois, from Chicago to Arlington Heights to Joliet is governed by the State’s Mandatory Insurance laws. Basically, the Illinois Secretary of State trusts that its citizens are in compliance and have valid insurance on their vehicles that meet basic policy limits. Normally, our DMV (Illinois Secretary of State) doesn’t take part in...
Read MoreHow is a Person Charged with a Crime in Illinois?
There are only three ways a person can be charged with a crime or offense in Illinois. Illinois law provides that a prosecution may be commenced by complaint, information or indictment. That’s it. Well, if you count local ordinance tickets there are four ways. But tickets are just a type of complaint. What is a...
Read MoreThe Crime of Looting in Chicago
Recently, I spoke to a person who had recently been charged with a theft arising out of the recent Black Lives Matter demonstrations in the Chicago area. Despite the city’s nonviolent protests, he was part of a group that unfortunately took the opportunity to loot businesses, rather than engage in peaceful protest. What happened in...
Read MoreWhen Can I Resist the Police?
You are just minding your own business when all of a sudden, you are being confronted by a police officer, displaying a badge, asserting their authority, and commanding you to comply. “Wait a minute--isn’t this America? Do I not have rights under the Constitution?” The answer is yes, of course you have rights; but resisting...
Read MoreHoly Misdemeanor Batman!
Keeping the streets of Gotham devoid of criminals is undoubtedly hard work because for some reason, criminals (and especially arch-criminals) have always been drawn to this urban enclave. It may be due to the historically low rents for the many available abandoned factories that dot the city. These rental units seem to be the perfect...
Read MoreCan You be Accountable For Another's Crime?
Consider the following. You and your friend Bill decide to drive to the University of Illinois Chicago campus to check it out. You agree to drive because Bill does not have a car. On the way there, you stop at the Sac-O-Suds convenience store to pick up some snacks. Because you are good citizens who...
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