Markham Courthouse

SEXNER’S PRO LEGAL TIP: The vast majority of criminal and traffic cases at the Markham courthouse (as well as other court locations in Cook County and other Illinois counties) involve a plea agreement. That is to say, for cases that are not dismissed outright, most people end up asking their attorney to work out a plea agreement that allows them to plead out their case for a specific pre-determined sentence, subject to the judge’s final approval. This often times allows the case to be finished quicker, with lower attorney fees, and the defendant has greater certainty about what the specific sentence is going to be ahead of time.

On the other hand, a trial is always a roll of the dice. Some cases that look like they have a high percentage to win may end up on the losing end and other cases that seem like long shots may end up with a not guilty verdict. You really never can know. But our attorneys will always give you their best legal opinion about your chances to win at trial as well as what risks you may be taking by doing so.

But a lawyer can’t make this important decision about trial or plea for you. In the end run, no one should ever tell you whether to plead guilty or not. That is your decision and your decision alone. It is the lawyer’s job to try to give you all of your options, including what type of sentence can be negotiated with the prosecutor in the event that you may choose to work out a deal. Our attorneys will always do their best to point you in the right direction.