ABOUT ME
Matt Keenan
Se habla español.
A criminal and school law attorney with over 24 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, Illinois State Bar Association.
We wrote the chapters on DEFENSES and ARRESTS AND INVESTIGATORY STOPS.
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Illinois Jurisprudence: Criminal Law and Procedure. Vol. 1. (LexisNexis 2014).We wrote the chapters on SEARCH and SEIZURE, MOTIONS AND DISCOVERY, and EVIDENTIARY MATTERS GENERALLY.
Illinois Jurisprudence: Criminal Law and Procedure. Vol. 1. (LexisNexis 2014).
Author Archives: mdkeenan
“I DIDN’T KNOW I’D HIT ANYONE”: LEAVING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT IN ILLINOIS
Illinois law requires that any driver involved in a motor vehicle accident must stay at the scene, file a police report and/or call for assistance. The law further requires that you reasonably assist any injured person including carrying that person … Continue reading
Posted in traffic offenses
Tagged failure to assist, failure to report an accident, leaving the scene
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2016 UPDATE ON COURTHOUSE CELL PHONE RULES
After the recent removal of cell phone lockers at the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse resulted in confusion, it seems like a good time to review the rules. Cook County first implemented its courthouse cell phone ban in 2013. The … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged cell phone, court rules, court security
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CAN THEY STOP ME FOR THAT? IMPROPER LICENSE PLATE DISPLAY IN ILLINOIS
It’s not hard for a police officer to find a legal reason to stop your car. If it isn’t seat belts or crossing over the center line or an actual moving violation, an officer may stop you because your license … Continue reading
Posted in violation
Tagged drivers license plate, license display law
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CAN THE POLICE ASK FOR MY DRIVER’S LICENSE DURING A TRAFFIC STOP?
The answer is yes. Recent U.S. and Illinois Supreme Court cases have held that a request for a driver’s license is reasonable regardless of the reason for the stop. Before 2005, police could not change the nature of a traffic … Continue reading
Posted in probable cause, traffic offenses
Tagged traffic stop
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SPECIAL DEFENSES FOR ILLINOIS DUI
Despite what you hear about criminal defendants “getting off on a technicality,” that really doesn’t happen very often. Most appellate courts are reluctant to let an otherwise guilty defendant go free if they can find any way to uphold the … Continue reading
Posted in breathalyzer/field sobriety test, DUI evidence
Tagged breathalyzer certification, police video
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DO I HAVE TO TAKE A PRELIMINARY BREATH TEST IN ILLINOIS?
If you are stopped for a traffic violation and the officer suspects you of DUI, he or she might ask you to take a preliminary breath test (PBT). Can you refuse? Under Illinois statute, if an officer has a reasonable … Continue reading
Posted in breathalyzer/field sobriety test, DUI evidence
Tagged breathalyzer, preliminary breath test, rights
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NON-CITIZEN DEFENDANTS, BEWARE! COURTS NEED NOT WARN YOU ABOUT THE IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES OF YOUR GUILTY PLEA
Decades ago, when a non-U.S. citizen was convicted on a charge such as DUI, their lawyer could tell them not to worry about their immigration status. It was highly unlikely that the government would bother to deport you. Those times … Continue reading
Posted in DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE
Tagged conviction, deportation, guilty plea, immmigration
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I DROVE SOMEONE ELSE’S CAR: DRIVING WITHOUT A BAIID IN ILLINOIS
After you were charged with DUI, the court allowed you to drive with a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID). But you’d had a couple beers and you knew you’d get in trouble if you blew into the device. So … Continue reading
Posted in driving on a suspended license, DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, violation
Tagged BAIID, breath alcohol ignition interlock device, driving permit, MDDP, Monitored Device Driving Permit, violation
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NEW ILLINOIS LAW EXPANDS DRIVING PERMITS FOR AGGRAVATED DUI OFFENDERS
A change to Illinois law allows a driver who has one Aggravated DUI conviction involving great bodily injury to apply for a restricted driving permit. The restricted permit would let you drive when using a breath alcohol ignition interlock device … Continue reading
Posted in aggravated dui, driving on a suspended license
Tagged aggravated dui, BAAID, driving on suspended, MDDP, repeat offenders, restricted driving, restricted permit
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COOK COUNTY JUDGE CHALLENGES ILLINOIS SPEEDING LAW
(UPDATE – June 16, 2016 – In People v Rizzo, the Illinois Supreme Court held that the law denying supervision to first-time excessive speeders does not violate the proportionate penalties clause of the Illinois Constitution.) A Cook County Circuit Court … Continue reading
Posted in speeding, traffic offenses
Tagged excessive speeding, speeding, speeding misdemeanors
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