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At the Law Offices of Steven R. Hunter, we are invested in our clients. We have years of experience fighting criminal charges across the state of Illinois including DuPage County. To schedule an in-person consultation with a DuPage County criminal defense attorney, you can give us a call at (312) 466-9466.
The DuPage County Criminal Court system constitutes the 18th Judicial Circuit in Illinois. It is currently the second largest court system in the state, with 15 Circuit Judges and 26 Associate Judges. If you commit a crime or are arrested in DuPage County, you will be assigned a first court date and summoned to appear.
Anyone charged with a crime in Illinois and across the country has the right to legal representation. You have the right to have an attorney present when you appear before a judge. This holds true in DuPage County and every county across the state.
According to the Illinois State Police, the most common criminal offenses in DuPage County in 2015 were theft, drug violations, and burglary. We provide criminal defense representation to defendants accused of any criminal offense in DuPage County. From a minor misdemeanor to a serious felony, we will advocate on your behalf.
Below, you can find more information about DuPage County court locations and policies.
Felonies, misdemeanors, and civil matters are all heard at DuPage County Courthouse, which is located at 505 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. Its hours of operation are 8:00a.m. -- 4:30p.m. Monday through Friday.
Parking is available in a lot in front of the courthouse free of charge. The courthouse is also accessible by public transportation on the #301 Roosevelt Road Pace Bus route as well as the Union Pacific West Metra train line.
Most criminal matters will be heard in courtrooms on the 4th Floor of the 505 Annex building. For a comprehensive listing of court office locations, and a map of the courthouse campus, visit the DuPage Circuit Court's website.
As with any government building, the DuPage County Courthouse has its own rules and regulations about which materials are allowed inside. When it comes time for your court date, it's imperative to understand these policies so you aren't met with any surprises at the security line when you arrive.
The following items are not permitted inside the DuPage County Courthouse:
At the Law Offices of Steven R. Hunter, we will always touch base with you the day before your hearing to remind you of the time, place, and any materials you need to bring. After years of standing by DuPage County criminal defendants in court, we always make sure you are prepared in every way when your court date arrives.
In DuPage County, there are two additional branch courts that are not located on the main campus. All criminal cases are assigned to the main DuPage County Courthouse, but traffic cases and other matters may be assigned to one of these field courts.
The addresses of the two other DuPage County branch locations can be found below.
The Chief Judge for the Eighteenth Circuit Court in Illinois is Kathryn E. Creswell.
The presiding judge over felony cases is Hon. Daniel P. Guerin, while Hon. Paul A. Marchese presides over the misdemeanor department.
The DuPage County circuit judges are: Robert J. Anderson, George J. Bakalis, Liam C. Brennan, Dorothy French Mallen, Paul M. Fullerton, Daniel P. Guerin, John J. Kinsella, Robert G. Kleeman, Patrick J. O'Shea, Kenneth L. Popejoy, Ronald D. Sutter, Brian F. Telander, Bonnie M. Wheaton, and Karen M. Wilson.
If you are in the midst of any court case, you might need to obtain a court form, file a motion, or a pay a fee. All of these tasks are completed through the County of DuPage Clerk of the Circuit Court's office. The Clerk's Office is an elected office that is responsible for recording and maintaining all legal events, generally functioning as a liaison between citizens, judges, attorney, and the court.
If you are facing criminal charges, you will be dealing with the Criminal & Traffic Division of the DuPage County Clerk's Office. This office is located in the main court complex at 505 County Farm Road, Wheaton, Illinois 60187. The clerk is open Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. -- 4:30 p.m. The Clerk of the Circuit Court in DuPage County is Chris Kachiroubas.
At our offices, a skilled DuPage County criminal defense attorney will guide you through this entire process and file motions on your behalf. It can be difficult to navigate the court system, and our lawyers have the knowledge and experience to demystify that process for you.
The Clerk's Office also deals with expungement petitions, which, if granted, can clear your criminal records of any evidence of court involvement. The next section will discuss how to access criminal records in DuPage County.
Illinois law requires that criminal records be free and accessible to the public. For instance, if you apply for a job, they may require you to submit to a background check. The report that results from that check will reveal any instance you have been arrested, charged with a crime, or convicted in criminal proceedings.
In DuPage County, criminal records may be accessed through the Clerk's Office. All records, except those that have been impounded by an order of the court, are accessible to the public during all hours the Clerk's office is open. The Clerk of the Circuit Court has also made available "Public Access terminals," which are basically self-serve computers at the Clerk's office that anyone may use to access and pull court records.
The Recorder's Office has posted an online Public Access Database where citizens may access court records; however, this database includes non-criminal cases only. To obtain criminal records, you must go in-person to the Clerk's Office at the DuPage County criminal courthouse.
You may be charged a fee to print or copy criminal records as well as other court documents.
We help DuPage County residents expunge their records. "Expungement" basically means erasing any arrests or criminal convictions from your criminal record. If you are interested in this option, give our offices a call today to see if you are eligible.
The DuPage County jail is located on the DuPage County Courthouse campus at 501 County Farm Road, Wheaton Illinois 60187.
If a family member or loved one is currently being held in DuPage County Criminal Jail, we recommend that you hire a criminal defense attorney on their behalf immediately if you have not already done so. We will schedule a meeting with your loved one to so that we can begin to structure a defense strategy.
If you would like to visit someone who is currently detained DuPage County Jail during pre-trial proceedings, it is important to be aware of the jail visitation policies. Inmates are allowed one 30-minute visit per week during visitation hours. In order to enter the jail, you must present a valid photo ID. For more information about visitation hours and procedures, you can visit the DuPage County sheriff's website.
Our firm has fought and won criminal cases on behalf of defendants in DuPage County. Whether you've been charged with DUI, domestic battery, or drug possession, the time is now to find a DuPage County criminal defense lawyer who will have your back. For a free legal consultation, give our offices a call at (312) 466-9466.
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312-466-9466