On February 15, Gary Martin opened fire at a warehouse in Aurora, Illinois after finding out he had been fired. He fatally shot five of his coworkers and wounded five police officers and a union representative. He used a Smith and Wesson handgun that he purchased using a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card legally five years earlier. Martin should never have been allowed to purchase a handgun by law because was a convicted felon. Five separate federal background check databases...

Imagine growing up in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where the drug cartels are in full force. Every day you wake up worried that you or a loved one may be killed in drug-related violence. As violence escalates among small marijuana farmers, or campesinos, another problem is brewing. With more U.S. states legalizing cannabis, this violence is increasing among drug cartels. Part of the reason this violence is increasing is due to cartels making fewer profits off the sale of...

You go over to a friend's house for dinner and enjoy two glasses of wine. You wait an hour or so, and eat dessert. After dessert, you do not feel buzzed at all, and you enjoy smoking some marijuana and a small amount of another controlled substance with your friends. After checking in with yourself once again, you determine that you are perfectly fine to drive your car home. While driving down the highway, you hear police sirens and look...

It is a common scenario. You are at a friend's house for dinner, and you decide to have a beer. Then you think, what the heck, and have one more beer. Perhaps you stop to evaluate yourself before getting into your car. You do not feel drunk at all — after all, you only had two beers. You slowly back your car out of the driveway and you begin to think that this is a bad decision, but you are...

We have all been there. You are excited to have a day off of work, ready to barbeque, relax, and enjoy some alcoholic beverages. One drink turns into several drinks, and by the end of your Fourth of July party, you are feeling a bit woozy, but you think you are okay to drive. You get your keys and start driving. No matter who or where you are, getting into your car after a Fourth of July party while drunk...

You are over at a friend's house and decide to partake in marijuana. Two hours later, you do not feel high anymore, so you decide to get into your car and drive home. You know that recreational marijuana is legal in as of January 1, 2020 Illinois, and you do not feel high, so you are not that worried. Driving within two hours of using cannabis is not uncommon, but even those who no longer feel “high” risk being pulled...

Representative Avery Bourne of Raymond, Illinois, 34 weeks pregnant herself, gave an impassioned pro-life speech against the newly passed Illinois abortion law on the Illinois congressional floor. The abortion rights issue has recently risen to the forefront of national and Illinois politics. The Illinois House of Representatives voted to pass a new abortion law that would remove almost all abortion restrictions at the end of May. Representative Kelly Cassidy's Reproductive Health Act will remove 45-year-old limits on abortion. Some late-term...

The Illinois Senate passed a law that legalizes the recreational use of marijuana after January 1, 2020. The Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act authorizes the "use of cannabis" for "persons 21 years of age or older and should be taxed like alcohol." Now anyone over the age of 21 and a citizen of Illinois can possess up to 30 grams of cannabis legally. Non-residents may only legally possess up to 15 grams. Residents may lawfully possess one ounce of a...

The Perry County Police Department arrested a man for possession of marijuana in May of 2019, two weeks before legalizing marijuana possession throughout the state. The man who was arrested had less than 10 grams of marijuana in his possession when he was arrested. A new Illinois law that goes into effect January 1, 2020, decriminalizes possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana for Illinois Citizens and possession of 15 grams of less for non-citizens of Illinois. Under the...

You have been with your partner for years, while you feel you have experienced more bad with them than good. Your partner habitually hurls insults at you, acts out in jealousy, and has a generally explosive temper. You sense that your partner seeks to isolate you from your family and friends. You are beginning to fear for your safety, but you are not sure what to do or how to get out of a bad situation. Did you know that...

Your marriage has been rocky lately. You seem to fight about every little thing, and last night the fight seemed to reach a new level of intensity. You and your partner both said and did things you now regret, but in the harsh light of morning, you discover that your partner has filed an order of protection against you. What happens now? You may be worried about your future. You may be embarrassed and not know how to respond. Perhaps...

On May 16, 2019, Decatur police arrested a mother who used a belt to whip her 17-year-old daughter after finding her in bed with her boyfriend. Police found belt-like welts and bruises on both of the girl’s arms. The Illinois domestic battery victim told the police that her mother made her stay home from school for two days to let her injuries heal. The Macon County Jail released the mother on $5,000 bail. Illinois Domestic Battery Law An Illinois domestic...

George and Irene own a cozy bungalow on the outskirts of the city. They have been married for a year after a whirlwind courtship and their relationship is rocky, at best. When Irene discovers that George is cheating on her, she is outraged. She files for divorce a few weeks later. George is furious, and the two argue extensively over who will get to keep the house. Irene has a lower-paying job than George, massive student debt and no family...

Aggravated battery on a police officer is a serious crime anywhere, but in Illinois, these charges are taken particularly seriously. If you have been charged with aggravated battery on a police officer, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney to assist you in crafting your defense because you are facing significant penalties if convicted. What is Aggravated Battery on a Police Officer? A simple battery occurs when someone “causes bodily harm to an individual” or “makes physical contact of an...

Domestic battery charges are quite serious in Illinois. Even if a victim chooses not to press charges, state prosecutors may still pursue the case. If you have been charged with domestic battery in Illinois, it is important to have an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side because you may be facing serious penalties. What Constitutes Domestic Battery? The crime of domestic battery in Illinois occurs when a person causes a family or household member bodily harm or perpetrates insulting...