As much as the décor, the music and the fashions favored by people may change, there is one thing about dance clubs, bars and nighttime hotspots that will never change: the presence of illegal narcotics. Indeed, the reality is that while most responsible owners do...
Chicago Criminal Law Blog
Bill targeting repeat gun offenders delayed by procedural maneuver
While most people were out enjoying the Memorial Day weekend, state lawmakers were hard at work in Springfield attempting to reach agreements on a host of issues from the budget and enhanced protections for immigrants to automatic voter registration and criminal law...
Back the Blue Act reintroduced on Capitol Hill
Last week, our blog discussed how Attorney General Jeff Session's recent order directing all 94 U.S. Attorneys to start charging and pursuing the most "serious" offenses, meaning those carrying "the most substantial guidelines sentence, including mandatory minimum...
Did AG Sessions just reignite the war on drugs?
In recognition of the astronomical cost and grave injustice that has resulted from keeping non-violent drug offenders locked in federal prisons for decades owing to draconian sentencing schemes established roughly 30 years ago, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder...
Is it really a federal offense to aim a laser pointer at an aircraft?
We're officially entering graduation season for high schools, colleges and universities throughout the Chicagoland area, across Illinois and around the nation. While this is a time to reflect on the past, contemplate the future and celebrate accomplishments, it's also...
AG Sessions vows DOJ will continue white collar crime crackdown
It's now been over 100 days since Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. While there is currently considerable debate in the press as to newly installed administration's accomplishments over this timeframe, there has never been any...
Legislation calls for reform of Illinois’ civil forfeiture laws
Many people might be unaware that the civil forfeiture laws in Illinois permit any state law enforcement agency to confiscate vehicles, cash, real estate or other personal property that it merely suspects is connected to criminal activity. As shocking as...
Understanding the suppression of evidence in criminal trials – II
Last time, our blog began discussing how defendants who believe that the evidence prosecutors are seeking to introduce at their criminal trial was gathered in violation of their constitutional rights can seek to have it suppressed, meaning thrown out, via the...
Understanding the suppression of evidence in criminal trials
The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution expressly protects "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures." While this language may seem a bit complex, it essentially means that...
How close is Illinois to legalizing marijuana for recreational use?
When it comes to the always controversial issue of marijuana, Illinois has recently taken some actions that could be described as progressive from decriminalizing possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana to launching a pilot program permitting the sale of medical...


