Author Archives: mdkeenan

About mdkeenan

A criminal and school law attorney with over 17 years of experience, I have successfully represented clients all over the Chicago area. My practice includes DUI, felony, criminal, misdemeanor, homicide, internet crime, retail theft, traffic offenses, cyberstalking, drug crimes, weapons violations, domestic battery and juvenile crime. I also represent families involving school cases. My clients come from all over the Chicago area including Skokie, Wilmette, Niles, Northbrook, Glenview, Evanston, Winnetka, Highland park, Northfield, Park Ridge, Des Plaines and Mount Prospect. I am a member of the ACLU and the Illinois State Bar Association. I serve as a volunteer for First Defense Legal Aid. Se habla espanol.

HOW TO CLEAR UP YOUR OLD ILLINOIS ARREST WARRANT WHEN YOU LIVE OUT OF STATE

Posted on August 20, 2021 by mdkeenan

Years ago, you were arrested in Illinois.  You ignored your court date, although you believe there is an outstanding warrant against you.  This did not trouble you for some years, because you live out of state and did not intend … Continue reading →

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CAN I BE ARRESTED IF DRUGS ARE FOUND IN A CAR AND I AM A PASSENGER?

Posted on August 14, 2021 by mdkeenan

You were riding around late one night with a friend who was driving.  An officer pulled you the car over.  Smelling alcohol on your friend, the officer had you both leave the car before spotting narcotics under the driver seat. … Continue reading →

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CAN I BE CONVICTED FOR DUI BASED ON MY FLASK?

Posted on July 31, 2021 by mdkeenan

You were stopped for failing to signal a turn.  When you opened the window, the officer spotted a flask on your passenger seat, smelled alcohol and asked you to take field sobriety tests, which you refused.  Can you be convicted … Continue reading →

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CAN I GET A PERMIT TO DRIVE IF I HAVE A DUI IN ILLINOIS?

Posted on July 16, 2021 by mdkeenan

The answer is generally yes, if it is your first DUI or a second DUI that occurs more than five years after the first. In the past, a driver could petition the court for a special driving permit that allowed … Continue reading →

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CAN POLICE ARREST ME WITHOUT A WARRANT FOR EVIDENCE FOUND IN MY CAR?

Posted on July 9, 2021 by mdkeenan

On your way home from a friend’s, an officer stopped you for speeding.  While issuing your ticket, the officer noticed a baggie of pills on the passenger side floor.  Because of the pills, you were ordered out of the car … Continue reading →

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WHY YOU SHOULDN’T “JUST GET IT OVER WITH” WHEN YOU ARE CHARGED WITH AN ILLINOIS DUI

Posted on June 23, 2021 by mdkeenan

Being charged with DUI is nobody’s idea of a good time.  It can be scary, stressful, expensive and a full of hassle.  The temptation to enter a guilty plea and “just get it over with” is overwhelming.  But it’s a … Continue reading →

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DO I NEED TO COME TO COURT FOR AN ILLINOIS TRAFFIC TICKET?

Posted on June 12, 2021 by mdkeenan

  Zoom has made court appearances for your traffic ticket easier than ever. Even if you are out of state, you can join court on your phone or laptop, although it remains to be seen if zoom court will continue … Continue reading →

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CAN YOU CHALLENGE THE BLOOD ALCOHOL TEST RESULTS FROM YOUR DUI?

Posted on May 21, 2021 by mdkeenan

After an accident, you were taken to a hospital and your blood was tested. The results gave you a blood alcohol result that was way over the legal limit. Can you challenge the testing? The answer depends on who did … Continue reading →

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CAN POLICE SEARCH MY HOSPITAL ROOM WITHOUT A WARRANT?

Posted on April 20, 2021 by mdkeenan

The answer is generally no. The Fourth Amendment protects you from warrantless searches in places where you have a reasonable expectation of privacy unless the search falls under an exception to the warrant requirement, such as when an item is … Continue reading →

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CAN I BE STOPPED FOR PARKING IN A LOT LATE AT NIGHT?

Posted on April 2, 2021 by mdkeenan

You like driving late at night.  It’s quiet, and it lets you think.  One night, you pulled over to eat in a store’s parking lot.  The store had been closed for several hours, and the area was deserted.  An officer … Continue reading →

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