ECILCRIME.COM | Brought to you by Coles County criminal-defense lawyer Jeremy J. Richey
Yes — if a judge determines that you make too much money or that your assets are too great, the judge will deny your request for a public defender. A man of sufficient means has a right to hire his own lawyer, however, a judge will not appoint a public defender to represent him. A government-provided lawyer is only guaranteed for the indigent (poor).
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I recently purchased a digital video camera for the purpose of making videos for my website and perhaps even this blog. I placed my first attempt at making a video on the “about” page of my website. If you are dying to know what the real me looks and sounds like, here is your chance.
Case Name: People v. Faint (.pdf)
Court: Appellate Court of Illinois, Third District
Date Decision Filed: 12/18/09
In this case, the trial court found the defendant guilty of DUI, but failed to give the defendant an opportunity to present a defense or give a closing statement! Unsurprisingly, the appellate court reversed the trial court’s finding of guilty and remanded the case for a new trial. It seems that the “DUI exception” to the Constitution does have its limits.
Case Name: People v. Eastin (.pdf)
Court: Appellate Court of Illinois, Fourth District
Date Decision Filed: 12/23/09
In this case, the appellate court discussed whether driving with a suspended license is a lesser-included offense of aggravated DUI when the reason for elevation of the DUI to aggravated DUI is that the DUI occurred while the defendant had a suspended license. The appellate court held that it is not a lesser-included offense. The crime is DUI; the aggravating factor (suspended license) is a sentencing matter and not an element of the crime.
