Michelle Moore Law · Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Criminal Defense, DUI & Personal Injury Lawyer Serving DuPage County
Charged with a crime, arrested for DUI, ticketed under a village ordinance, or hurt in an accident? Former DuPage County prosecutor Michelle Moore has spent 31+ years in Illinois courtrooms, and she will give you straight answers and a real plan.
Free initial consultation DuPage, Will, Kane & Cook Counties
How Michelle can help
Michelle concentrates on four areas where her experience as a prosecutor makes the biggest difference for her clients.
Criminal Defense
Misdemeanor and felony charges in state court, from retail theft and drug possession to domestic battery and serious felonies.
Learn moreDUI & Traffic Tickets
DUI arrests, statutory summary suspensions, driving while suspended, speeding and other moving violations.
Learn moreMunicipal Ordinance Defense
Tickets and arrests charged under a village or city ordinance instead of state law, defended by a former municipal prosecutor.
Learn morePersonal Injury
Car, truck and pedestrian accidents, slip-and-fall injuries and dog bites. Free consultation to review your claim.
Learn moreMunicipal Law
Charged under a village ordinance instead of state law?
Many suburban police departments now write charges such as retail theft, cannabis, disorderly conduct, and even DUI under their own municipal ordinance, so the village keeps the fines. These cases have their own rules and their own prosecutors.
Michelle currently serves as a municipal prosecutor for several DuPage County villages. She knows exactly how these cases are handled, and she uses that knowledge to defend people charged under city and village ordinances.
Municipal ordinance defense- Prosecutorfor the Villages of Carol Stream, Lisle & Lombard
- DUI & trafficprosecutor for the Villages of Villa Park & Clarendon Hills
- 6 yearswith the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office
Why clients choose Michelle Moore
Michelle has practiced law in DuPage County her entire career. She began as a law clerk and Assistant State's Attorney in DuPage County, prosecuting traffic, misdemeanor, DUI and summary suspension cases, and opened her own practice in Glen Ellyn in 2001.
- She knows the other side. Years as a state and municipal prosecutor mean she knows how cases are charged, negotiated and tried.
- You work with Michelle directly, not a revolving door of associates.
- A plan for the whole person. When substance use or mental health is part of the picture, she builds that into the defense.
- Respected locally: past president of the DuPage County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers.
Additional practice areas
Michelle also helps individuals and families with these legal matters.
Civil Asset Forfeiture
Getting back cars, cash, bank accounts and property seized by police.
Learn moreDivorce & Family Law
Divorce, custody and parenting plans, child support, and orders of protection.
Learn moreResidential Real Estate
Home closings, contract review, and title, lien and boundary disputes.
Learn moreCriminal & Civil Appeals
Appeals from the trial court through the Illinois Appellate and Supreme Courts.
Learn moreServing DuPage, Will, Kane & Cook Counties
From the office in Glen Ellyn, Michelle appears in courthouses across the Chicago suburbs, including the DuPage County Judicial Center in Wheaton, and represents clients in courts throughout Illinois.
- Glen Ellyn
- Wheaton
- Naperville
- Lombard
- Downers Grove
- Elmhurst
- Oak Brook
- Hinsdale
- Villa Park
- Woodridge
- Bloomingdale
- Carol Stream
- Joliet
- Elgin
- St. Charles
- Chicago
Frequently asked questions
I was arrested for DUI last night. What should I do first?
Start with three things today:
- Gather your paperwork. Keep the tickets, the Notice of Summary Suspension, and any release or bond papers. They list your court date and the deadlines that matter.
- Write down everything you remember while it is fresh: where you were, what you ate and drank and when, why you were stopped, which tests you were asked to do, and what the officer said.
- Talk to a DUI attorney before your first court date and before the summary suspension deadline. Do not discuss the case with anyone else or post about it online.
Michelle offers a free consultation and can usually tell you where you stand in one call: 630.858.9800.
Will I lose my driver's license after a DUI arrest in Illinois?
Possibly, and it can happen before your case is decided. Illinois uses a statutory summary suspension, an administrative suspension that is separate from the criminal DUI case. It begins on the 46th day after you receive the notice. For a first offender it is generally 6 months if a test showed a BAC of 0.08 or more, or 12 months if you refused testing. Repeat offenders face longer suspensions. The ticket usually serves as your license until the suspension starts.
Do I have to pay bail to get out of jail in Illinois?
No. Since September 18, 2023, Illinois no longer uses cash bail. Under the Pretrial Fairness Act, people are released before trial unless the prosecutor files a petition and a judge finds they must be detained. Release usually comes with conditions, such as appearing in court, having no contact with certain people, or avoiding certain places. Violating those conditions can lead to detention, so follow them carefully.
Why did police charge me under a local ordinance instead of state law?
Often because of the money. When a case is charged under a local ordinance, the fines go to the municipality rather than being split with the county and state. Ordinance charges can also move faster and are sometimes used for offenses the department considers minor. Whatever the reason, the charge is still serious, and it deserves a real defense.
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim in Illinois?
In most cases, two years from the date of the injury. The deadline can be much shorter when a city, village, county or other local government is responsible, where it is generally one year. Waiting can also mean lost evidence and witnesses, so talk to an attorney early.
Is the first consultation free?
Yes. Michelle offers a free initial consultation by phone. Call 630.858.9800 or submit your case online, and she will review it and get back to you.
Get a free consultation
Tell Michelle a little about what happened. She will review it and get back to you, usually within one business day.