Chicago DUI attorney comments on jury service with a DUI

This Chicago DUI attorney has a sliver of good news, if you could call it that about being charged with a DUI.  She’s posted here, here, and here about all of the bad things that happen to the accused.

Former governor Rod Blagojevich second trial is about to begin.  The government has streamlined its case against him and decided not to charge his brother this time.

Still, choosing the jurors has not been easy.

April 22, Chicago, Il:

 In his first day back in federal court since his trial last summer, Rod Blagojevich learned potential jurors held some unflattering impressions of him.

One referred to the former governor as a “nutcase,” in a written jury form, according to U.S. District Judge James Zagel.

“If you take that literally, that does not mean guilty,” Zagel said.

Those were some of the issues that attorneys dealt with on the first day of jury questioning, in which 22 people were quizzed and nine of those were dismissed for “cause.” In some cases that meant economic hardship or because they said they couldn’t be fair. Jury questioning continues on Monday and by the start of testimony, 18 will be seated.

Among the 13 who are so far staying: a former assistant state’s attorney who also worked for the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as a man who was convicted of assault, DUI and was entangled in a massive financial scam.

Don’t you feel better knowing that a DUI will not prevent you from doing your civic duty and serving on a jury?

Chicago DUI attorney thinks DUI checkpoint apps put the power back in the hands of citizens

This Chicago DUI attorney has posted here and here about apps that could prevent a DUI arrest.  UnThis Chicago DUI attorney has posted here and here about apps that could prevent a DUI arrest.

If a driver is sufficiently impaired so as to be unable to operate a car safely, I have doubts about his or her ability to use a cell phone app to 'thwart' law enforcement. What's your perspective?

April 17, New York, New York:

FRIENDS don’t let friends drive drunk. If they can’t take their friend’s keys away, they take their smartphone. Why? The phone may have an app that can help them avoid sobriety checkpoints.

Last month, Senators Harry Reid,Charles E. Schumer, Frank R. Lautenberg and Tom Udall asked Apple, Google and Research In Motion, the maker of BlackBerrys, to remove apps from their online stores that help drunken drivers evade sobriety checkpoints.

On March 23, the day after the letter went out, the group said BlackBerry agreed to pull the apps and thanked the group for bringing them to its attention.

Apple and Google? Nothing.

Buzzed, a smartphone app that shows nothing but sobriety checkpoints, is matched with a Web site with a self-explanatory address, EveryCheckpoint.com.

PhantomAlert was one of the apps that Research In Motion pulled from its online store at the request of the senators. R.I.M. did not respond to requests for comment. But Joseph Scott, chief executive of PhantomAlert, defended real-time alerts of sobriety checkpoints as a convenience to law-abiding citizens who do not want to be delayed by a checkpoint. “Assuming someone who gets a D.U.I.-checkpoint alert is going to drink and drive is like assuming anyone who owns a gun is a murderer,” he said.

 Still, whether you wish to avoid the headache or the thought of having to stand on one leg to prove your innocence is not your cup of tea, you may want to check out these apps.

Chicago DUI attorney shares free legal advice...from a judge

I was sitting in court, waiting for my case to be called, when a judge decided to remind everyone why he thought it was important that they should not represent themselves in his court room.

He used to be a criminal defense attorney.  He let it be known that he had tried many murders, successfully.  He also noted that he was no expert in Driving While Suspended or Revoked cases, but he knew he would hedge his bets on beating a murder case any day over beating a misdemeanor driving while license is suspended/revoked.

So instead of polishing your legal skills with another episode of Judge Judy or Law and Order, why not heed the free advice from a judge?