Chicago Criminal Law Information Center

Chicago is the third largest city in the United States with a population of over 2.7 million people. Chicago is the largest city in the State of Illinois and the largest city in the Midwestern part of the United States. The area surrounding the City of Chicago is known as the Chicago Metropolitan Area. It is also known as Chicago-land. Nearly 10 million people live in the Chicago Metropolitan Area.

Chicago is centrally located along the shores of Lake Michigan. Chicago is an internationally recognized center of financial and commercial importance. O'Hare International Airport is the second-busiest airport in the world. The transportation infrastructure surrounding Chicago has the largest number of highways and railroads for freight and commerce in the country. The City of Chicago has been ranked as the 7th most important city in the world by the 2016 Global Cities Index.

The area surrounding Chicago was originally inhabited by the Native American Indian tribe known as the Potawatomi. Chicago was originally settled by Jean Baptiste Point du Sable when he set up a trader's post at the mouth of the Chicago River in the 1870's. Du Sable is considered the 'Founder of Chicago". Du Sable was of African and French descent. Du Sable was married to a Native American woman and had two children.  In 1833 the Potawatomi Tribe was removed from the area. By 1833, the Town of Chicago was established and organized with a population of roughly 2,000 people. By 1840, the population of Chicago had grown to more than 4,000 people. The City of Chicago was incorporated on March 4 1837. For several decades following its incorporation, Chicago was the world's fastest growing city.

Chicago's initial population growth was spurred by its location. Chicago's central location made it an important national transportation hub connecting the eastern and western parts of the United States. The Galena and Chicago Union Railroad connected the different parts of the United States. The Illinois and Michigan Canal opened in 1848. The Illinois and Michigan Canal allowed steamboats and ships on the Great Lakes to access the Mississippi River. The flourishing economy attracted residents from throughout the United States and immigrants from abroad. Chicago's manufacturing, finance, and transportation sectors, made the City of Chicago a major player in America's economy. The Chicago Board of Trade was established in 1848. It became the first market to exchange futures contracts.

In 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed a large section of the City of Chicago. However, important parts of the city, such as its railroads and stockyards, survived completely intact. The surviving parts of Chicago allowed for the City of Chicago to recover and continue growing after the Great Chicago Fire. The previous wooden structures, that had been destroyed by the fire, were replaced by modern buildings made of steel and stone. In 1885, the world's first skyscraper was constructed in Chicago using steel.

In 1893, Chicago hosted the World's Columbian Exposition on what is currently known as Jackson Park. Nearly 27.5 million visitors came to Chicago for the Exposition. The 1893 World's Columbian Exposition is generally considered to be the most influential World's Fair in history. In 1892, the University of Chicago moved to the location of the World's Columbian Exposition at Jackson Park.

In 1942, Enrico Fermi conducted the first controlled nuclear reaction at the University of Chicago. This event was part of the Manhattan Project which led to the development of the world's first atomic bomb. The atomic bomb was used in 1945 on Japan to end World War II.

Richard J Daley was elected Mayor of the City of Chicago in 1955. The election of Mayor Daley ushered in an era of "Machine Politics" which created a legacy that continues to this day. Following the election of Mayor Daley, the City of Chicago underwent a major series of expansions which included the annexing of the land that currently includes O'Hare International Airport.

In 1968 Chicago hosted the Democratic National Convention. The Convention gained national and international attention after violent protests between Vietnam anti-war protesters and the police were broadcast on televisions throughout the world.

In 1983 Chicago elected Harold Washington, the city's first black mayor. Harold Washington was re-elected in 1987 but died of a heart attack shortly after his re-election. Richard M. Daley, the son of Richard J. Daley, was elected mayor of Chicago in 1989. Richard M. Daley was re-elected five times, making him Chicago's longest serving mayor. In 2011, the former White House Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, was elected Mayor of the City of Chicago. He continues to serve as Mayor of the City of Chicago.

The Chicago Police Department is the second largest Police Department in the United States with over 12,200 sworn police officers and almost 2,000 other employees. The Chicago Police Department is one of the oldest Police Departments in the world having started in 1835.

Chicago is part of the Circuit Court of Cook County, the largest Judicial Circuit of the 24 Judicial Circuits in Illinois. The Circuit Court of Cook County was the largest unified court system in the United States until 1989 when the Superior Court of Los Angeles merged with other courts in California to overtake Cook County. The Circuit Court of Cook County is currently the nation’s second largest unified court system and remains as one of the world’s largest unified court systems.

The Circuit Court of Cook County has over 400 judges.  Roughly 257 of the Cook County Circuit Court Judges are Circuit Judges that are elected by the voters to six-year terms. The Illinois Supreme Court can fill any Circuit Court Judge vacancies that occur between elections, but any judges appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court must run for election at the next available election.

To handle the large caseload, the Cook County Judicial Circuit is organized into three departments: County, Municipal, and Juvenile Justice and Child Protection.

To handle the County's large population, the Circuit Court of Cook County is divided into six districts to serve the population of Cook County. The six districts are set forth as follows:

-First Municipal District-City of Chicago Cases

-Second Municipal District-Skokie-Northern suburbs of Cook County

-Third Municipal District-Rolling Meadows-Northwest suburbs of Cook County

-Fourth Municipal District-Maywood-Western Suburbs of Cook County

-Fifth Municipal District-Bridgeview-Southwest Suburbs of Cook County

-Sixth Municipal District-Markham-South Suburbs of Cook County

All of the Cook County Municipal District Courthouses hear felony and misdemeanor criminal cases. The main Cook County Criminal Court Building is located at 2650 South California Avenue, Chicago Illinois 60608.  Cook County Jail, which is the jail that houses all of the Cook County Jail inmates, is located next to the Cook County Criminal Court Building. All of the criminal defendants that are being held in custody while their cases are pending in court, are transported to and from Cook County Jail by the Sheriff of Cook County to whatever Courthouse their criminal case may be pending at.

Chicago criminal defense attorney, James Dimeas, has been handling criminal cases throughout Chicago and Cook County for over 26 years. Chicago criminal defense lawyer, James Dimeas, understands how stressful and daunting facing a criminal case can be for a criminal defendant. This is especially true in a large and confusing court system like Cook County. Since James Dimeas has spent over 26 years handling criminal cases throughout Chicago and Cook County, he has a unique understanding of exactly how the Cook County Court System operates. James Dimeas is a highly respected and admired criminal defense lawyer who has established a stellar reputation and is well known by all of the prosecutors and judges throughout the Cook County Court System. James Dimeas is frequently consulted by other criminal defense attorneys for his opinion and guidance. Mr. Dimeas knows how to use the various programs and opportunities that the Cook County Court System offers to help you avoid a criminal conviction and to keep criminal cases from appearing in a background search.

Chicago criminal defense attorney, James Dimeas, has handled thousands of criminal cases in all of the courthouses in Cook County. James Dimeas is a criminal defense lawyer who understands that each of the courthouses in Cook County operates a little differently than every other courthouse in Cook County. James Dimeas understands how each courthouse operates and how each judge in every courtroom operates. James Dimeas knows how to get things done in Cook County and knows how to get results!

Chicago criminal defense lawyer, James Dimeas, understands how important it is to make sure that his clients understand what is happening with their case and what will be happening in the future. James Dimeas is a criminal defense attorney who takes great pride in making sure that he keeps in contact with his clients and is always available to answer their questions and make sure they understand what is happening with our case. James Dimeas is a criminal defense attorney who understands that in criminal cases, the difference between winning and losing can often come down to the assistance that a well-informed client can provide to their criminal defense lawyer. James Dimeas is always accessible by phone, text message, or email, to make sure that his clients are informed so that they can provide him with the assistance that he needs to win their criminal case.

James Dimeas is a nationally-recognized, award-winning, criminal defense attorney with over 26 years of experience handling criminal cases throughout Chicago, Cook County, and the Chicago Metropolitan Area. Attorney and Practice Magazine gave James Dimeas the "Top 10 Criminal Defense Attorney Award for Illinois." The National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys gave James Dimeas the "Top 10 Attorney Award for the State of Illinois." Recently, the American Society of Legal Advocates named James Dimeas a "Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyer in the State of Illinois For the Year 2018 and 2019." James Dimeas was named a "Best DUI Attorney" and a "Best Criminal Defense Lawyer in Chicago" by Expertise. The American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys named James Dimeas a "10 Best Attorney for Client Satisfaction." The National Trial Lawyers recognized James Dimeas as a "Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer." AVVO rates James Dimeas as "Superb", the highest rating possible for any criminal defense attorney in the United States.  James Dimeas is truly one of the best criminal defense lawyer in Chicago, Cook County, the State of Illinois, and the United States.

If you are facing criminal charges in Chicago or Cook County, you can contact James Dimeas anytime for a free and confidential consultation. You can always talk to James Dimeas personally by calling him at 847-807-7405. James Dimeas is always available to help you with your criminal case.