Michelle Moore Norton is a life-long resident of DuPage County, and has served the community as an Assistant State’s Attorney and municipal prosecutor, and in the private practice of law, for the past 22 years. She enjoys practicing in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake & Will Counties, primarily.
The Law Office of Michelle Moore, Ltd. was established in February, 2001, following Ms. Moore Norton’s years as a law clerk and Assistant State’s Attorney for DuPage County, from 1994 to 2000, and affiliation with a general practice firm located in Cook County, Illinois from 2000 – 2001. As an Assistant State’s Attorney, Ms. Moore Norton spent more than two years prosecuting traffic, misdemeanor offenses and DUIs and summary suspensions, exclusively. During that time, Ms. Moore Norton became intimately familiar with all the nuances of successful criminal/traffic/DUI prosecution, and pitfalls where patrol officers are not fully trained and aware of proper protocols and issues in search and seizure. This familiarity provided a substantial foundation for her later work as a criminal defense attorney. During these formative years in her legal career, Ms. Moore Norton laid the foundations for positive, productive and professional relationships with colleagues in the legal and law enforcement communities.
Following her “retirement” from the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office, Ms. Moore Norton developed a successful private practice defending criminal matters, ranging from routine traffic violations, DUIs, drug offenses, and all manner of felonies, up to and including murders. Additionally, her practice grew to encompass defending civil asset forfeitures, clemency petitions, criminal and civil appeals and facilitating residential real estate closings for clients. As a direct result of her positive relations with prosecutors, judges, police officers, and former courtroom adversaries, and her reputation as a thorough and tenacious trial attorney, Ms. Moore Norton is privileged to serve as the primary municipal prosecutor for the Villages of Carol Stream and Lisle (DUI/Ordinance/Traffic/Zoning & Code Enforcement), and the Village of Lombard (Ordinance/Traffic/Zoning & Code Enforcement). In this capacity, she cannot and will not represent persons charged with criminal or civil matters arising out of, or involving, investigations originating from the Carol Stream, Lisle or Lombard Police Departments.
Having a unique perspective as both a defense attorney and prosecutor, Ms. Moore Norton has had a front row seat to emerging trends in criminal justice. Sensitive to the needs of the mentally ill and those plagued by drug/alcohol abuse or addiction issues, Ms. Moore Norton dispenses legal advice designed to address underlying issues that lead to criminal conduct, and geared towards helping her clients not only “beat their cases” but beat their own demons, as well. Her goals are to always best serve her clients, in light of the particular facts and circumstances of their cases, and flesh out the strategies that are best suited to put them on a path to recovery and useful and productive citizenship — as their attorney and as someone personally invested in helping them secure the best possible, long-term outcome…. Because when their case is resolved, life will go on, and it will be infinitely better if they have learned from their experiences and implemented necessary changes.
Ms. Moore Norton handles cases for her municipal and private clients from the trial court through all stages of appeal, and has argued before the Illinois Appellate and Supreme Courts. She received her B.A. in Political Science and English from the University of Illinois in 1992, and her Juris Doctorate from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1995, receiving an American Jurisprudence Award for her writings in Issues in Jurisprudence, Spring, 1995.
In addition to the work ethic and drive necessary to build a successful and diversified law practice, Ms. Moore Norton has dedicated herself to the community and to the betterment of the practice of law by engaging in the following activities:
- Member, Illinois Local Government Lawyers Association, 2017 – present
- Member, International Association of Chiefs of Police, 2012 – present
- Member, Past Committee Chair, DuPage County Bar Association, 1999 – present
- Director, DuPage County Bar Association Executive Board, June, 2011 – 2014
- Member, Past President, DuPage Association of Women Lawyers, 2006 – present
- 2013 Inspirational Woman Award Recipient
- Member, Past President, DuPage County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 2004 – present
- Member, DuPage County Justinians, 2008 – present
- Member, Past President, Robert E. Jones, DuPage Chapter, American Inns of Court, 2007 – 2016
- Child Grief Counselor for Rainbows for All God’s Children (2001-2002; program relocated due to decreased participation); Religious Education Catechist, 3rd Grade (2015 – present), St. James the Apostle Parish, Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
- Member, Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists, 1999 – present
Ms. Moore Norton currently maintains offices in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and will be happy to help you with your legal needs.