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
HOW THE DEFENSE MAY SHOW YOUR BLOOD ALCOHOL IS LOWER THAN YOUR BREATHALYZER
You had several drinks at the bar before you drove home. Police stopped you for a moving violation and arrested you for DUI. At the police station, you blew the breathalyzer. The reading was over the legal limit. Your friend, … Continue reading
Posted in breathalyzer/field sobriety test, DUI evidence
Tagged blood alcohol evidence, breathalyzer evidence, evidence, retrograde extrapolation
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WHEN A TRAFFIC VIOLATION IS NOT A TRAFFIC VIOLATION
It’s not hard for police to justify a traffic stop. There are a host of potential traffic violations, and chances are, you’ve violated at least one of them. But not in every case. A recent Illinois Appellate case found that … Continue reading
Posted in moving violations, traffic offenses
Tagged probable cause, traffic violation
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ILLINOIS GETS TOUGH ON TRAFFIC TICKETS WITH NEW LAW
A new Illinois law makes it tougher to ignore those routine traffic tickets. Before the new law, your ticket could be dismissed even if you didn’t show up for court. As long as the arresting officer or complaining witness were … Continue reading
Posted in moving violations, suspensions, traffic offenses
Tagged failure to appear suspension, loss of driving privileges, suspension, traffic ticket, violation
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CAN I BE ARRESTED FOR AVOIDING A POLICE ROADSIDE CHECKPOINT IN ILLINOIS?
You were driving home from a party when you noticed several cars up ahead and spotted a police checkpoint. You really didn’t want the hassle, so you turned your car around and drove away. Next thing you know, a police … Continue reading
Posted in DUI evidence, probable cause, road blocks
Tagged checkpoints, field sobriety checkpoint, police checkpoint, roadblocks
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The Crime of Obstructing Identification in Illinois
While it may hardly seem like a crime, under certain circumstances, you can be charged with a Class A Misdemeanor for failing to give your correct name, address or birthdate to police. In Illinois, Obstructing Identification involves knowingly and intentionally … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged obstructing a peace officer, obstructing identification, resisting arrest
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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SUSPENDED AND A REVOKED DRIVER’S LICENSE IN ILLINOIS?
Depending on the nature, severity and number of times you’ve been charged with DUI, the Secretary of State may suspend your license or revoke it. Generally, your license is automatically suspended for a set period when you are charged with … Continue reading
Posted in driving on a suspended license, suspensions
Tagged driving on a revoked license, driving on a suspended license, driving privileges, revoked, secretary of state, secretary of state suspension, suspended
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HOW TO DRESS FOR DUI COURT
I am often surprised at how casually some parties dress for court. The judge may pass sentence on you, so you need to impress him or her. A defendant should remember that the judge is a human being who will … Continue reading
“I MISSED MY COURT DATE!:” THE ILLINOIS LAW ON BOND FORFEITURE WARRANTS
You overslept and didn’t make it to court. Or maybe you couldn’t get off from work. In any case, you missed the court date for your DUI. What can happen to you? What can you do? When you are charged … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged arrest, bond forfeiture, bond forfeiture warrant, court appearance, court date
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OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS: HOT PURSUIT IN ILLINOIS
When you saw the siren, you panicked. You knew you were near the city limits or the state border and you thought if you crossed it, the police would have to stop just like in the movies. Can police follow … Continue reading
Posted in out of state dui, Uncategorized
Tagged border, fleeing, fresh pursuit, hot pursuit, jurisdiction
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NEW ILLINOIS MARIJUANA LAWS DO NOT CHANGE THE DUI TRACE LAW: YOU STILL CAN’T DRIVE WITH MARIJUANA IN YOUR SYSTEM
Medical marijuana is now allowed in Illinois under certain restrictions. So what does that mean if you are charged with DUI after taking that joint? Unfortunately, the penalties for driving and smoking without a prescription can still be severe, even … Continue reading
Posted in aggravated dui, prescription medication
Tagged aggravated dui, cannabis, driving under the influence of cannabis, driving under the influence of drugs, driving under the influence of marijuana, driving under the influence of prescription drugs, Illinois trace law, Marijuana
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