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William Wolf

William Wolf

Let The Law Office of William Wolf, LLC advocate for your rights.
  • Criminal Law, DUI & DWI, Domestic Violence ...
  • Illinois, Northern District of Illinois
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Biography

William Wolf has been a criminal defense lawyer for over 28 years. He has an extensive amount of experience handling all kinds of cases ranging from homicide to sex crimes to narcotics.

Mr. Wolf excels in strategic thinking which has helped him serve thousands of people to win at trial or get the best deal possible. He has vast experience in jury trials, bench trials, and motion hearings to protect his clients from overzealous law enforcement and prosecutors.

He has been published in the State of Illinois and nationally on topics including defending homicide cases, cross-examining expert witnesses, and Confrontation Clause litigation. Mr. Wolf also has lectured nationwide on these and other topics at seminars given for fellow criminal defense lawyers.

Mr. Wolf is active in both the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers where he is a former member of their Board of Directors and the Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers where he is a Past-President. He has worked on a large number of projects in both groups.

Mr. Wolf has a long track record of success in litigation and plea-negotiations that is due not just to effective strategic thinking, but also a lot of hard work. The bottom line is that a defense case that's not well thought out is not going to succeed. While no lawyer can guarantee success for a client, the Law Office of William Wolf can guarantee a well thought out strategy, coupled with hard work to maximize that client's chances of success.

Education
Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology
J.D. (1993) | Law
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Worked with a 711 Student Law License under the supervision of attorneys at the Cook County Public Defender's Office during plea negotiations and hearings, motion hearings, bench trials, jury trials, and sentencing hearings.
Activities: Worked at the Law Offices of Chicago-Kent College of Law in the Criminal Defense Clinic under the supervision of Professor Richard Kling. Worked at an externship with the Cook County Public Defender's Office at the Felony Trial Division at 26th and California.
Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology Logo
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
B.A. (1990) | Political Science
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Double Minor in History and Philosophy
University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign Logo
Professional Experience
Attorney, Assistant Public Defender
Cook County Public Defender's Office
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I spent over 11 years in the Office's Homicide Task Force defending First Degree Murder cases at the trial level. This included defending death penalty cases until the State of Illinois abolished the death penalty. I also spent years defending a large variety of other kinds of felony cases and supervised lawyers who handled trials, appeals, and post-conviction cases until I left the Office.
Publications
Articles & Publications
A Tale of Two Counties and Two Very Different Outcomes
The Champion Magazine
Response to the Threat of His Client’s Loss of Counsel (Gideon’s Champions).
The Champion Magazine
Minor Crimes, Massive Waste: The Terrible Toll of America’s Broken Misdemeanor Courts
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Defining ‘Testimonial’ and other trends in the wake of Crawford and Confrontation in Illinois
Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
The 48 Hour Rule: What’s Left to Argue When Suspects Are Held Indefinitely?
Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness, Part 2
The Champion Magazine
Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness, Part 1
The Champion Magazine
v. Washington: Confronting the 6th Amendment roots out the evils of hearsay
Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Speaking Engagements
Building a Defense Case, CCPD's Three Days in a Nutshell, Oakbrook, IL
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Preparing to Cross-Examine the Homicide Detective, NACDL's Annual Meeting and Seminar, San Francisco, CA
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness, BCPD In-House Training, St. Joseph, MI
Berrien County Public Defender's Office
Preparation for Winning Videotaped Confession Cases, BCPD In-House Training, St. Joseph, MI
Berrien County Public Defender's Office
Ethics, the A.B.A. Guidelines and You, UACDL Death Penalty Conference, Salt Lake City, UT
Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Taking the Record off of Life Support, UACDL Death Penalty Conference, Salt Lake City, UT
Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness, NACDL/GPDC Southwestern Regional Public Defense Training, Macon, GA
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers/Georgia Public Defense Council
Preparation for Winning Videotaped Confession Cases, CCPD “Three Days in a Nutshell”, Oakbrook, IL
Cook County Public Defender's Office
Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness, Gideon’s Promise Summer Institute, Oxford, MS
Gideon's Promise
Presented twice on July 29 and July 30.
Building a Defense Case, KCPD In-House Office Training, St. Charles, IL
Gideon's Promise
Preparing to Win Murder Cases, CCPD Legal Resources Division In-House Office Training, Chicago, IL
Cook County Public Defender's Office
Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness, IACDL Midwinter Seminar and Meeting, East St. Louis, IL
Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Working With Experts, CCPD Civil Division In-House Training, Chicago, IL
Cook County Public Defender's Office
Preparation for Cross-Examination of the Forensic Pathologist: Shaping the Storyline for Acquittals, WSPD 2015 Annual Criminal Defense Conference, Milwaukee, WI
Cook County Public Defender's Office
Law and Science behind DNA Exoneration Part I, CCPD Legal Resources Division In-House Office Training, Chicago, IL
Cook County Public Defender's Office
I served as a panelist during this presentation.
Preparation for Winning Videotaped Confession Cases, CCPD “Three Days in a Nutshell”, Oakbrook, IL
Cook County Public Defender's Office
How to Challenge Videotaped Statements of Your Client, UACDL Criminal Defense Conference, St. George, UT
Utah Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness, NACDL Midwinter Meeting and Seminar, New Orleans, LA
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
How to Respond Professionally to Prosecutorial and Judicial Misconduct, IACDL Semi-Annual Meeting and Seminar, Rock Island, IL
Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Building a Defense Case, CCPD Civil Division In-House Training, Chicago, IL
Cook County Public Defender's Office
How to Challenge Videotaped Statements of Your Client, AACDL's 2013 All-Stars Conference, Girdwood, AK
Alaska Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness, AACDL's 2013 All-Stars Conference, Girdwood, AK
Alaska Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Emotionally Charged! How to React Professionally to Misconduct Committed by Judges, Prosecutors, and Investigators in Sensitive Cases, IACDL Midwinter Seminar and Meeting, Springfield, IL
Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
I served as a panelist during this presentation.
Funding an Expert for Indigent Defense, NACDL Midwinter Meeting and Seminar, Washington, DC
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
I served as a panelist during this lunchtime presentation.
Taking the Record off of Life Support, NACDL's Making the Case for Life Seminar, Atlanta, GA
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Prosecutorial Misconduct: Eliminating it and Answering it, CCPD's Three Days in a Nutshell, Oakbrook, IL
Cook County Public Defender's Office
I served as a co-presenter.
Closing Argument Presentation on False Confessions, OSAD Seminar on Confession Cases, Springfield, IL
Office of the State Appellate Defender
Law and Strategy of the Statement Case: Miranda-Voluntariness-Completeness-Foundation, OSAD Seminar on Confession Cases, Springfield, IL
Office of the State Appellate Defender
I served as a panelist for this presentation.
Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness, KCPD In-House Office Training, St. Charles, IL
Kane County Public Defender's Office
Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness, Death Penalty Certification Seminar, Perrysburg, OH
Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness, MCPD In-House Office Training, Bloomington, IL
McLean County Public Defender's Office
Prosecutorial Misconduct: Eliminating it and Answering it, OSAD Seminar on Confession Cases, Chicago, IL
Office of the State Appellate Defender
Miranda v. Arizona-Defending the Statement Case, OSAD Seminar on Confession Cases, Chicago, IL
Office of the State Appellate Defender
I was a panelist for this presentation.
Ethics, the A.B.A. Guidelines and You, ACDLA Death Penalty Seminar, Birmingham, AL
Alabama Criminal Defense Lawyers' Association
Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness, DCPD In-House Office Training, Wheaton, IL
DuPage County Public Defender's Office
Taking the Record off of Life Support, NACDL's Making the Case for Life Seminar, Charleston, SC
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness, IPDA Fall Seminar, Springfield, IL
Illinois Public Defender Association
Preserving Relationships Between Trial, Appellate, and Post-Conviction Counsel, NACDL Death Penalty Seminar, Birmingham, AL
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
I was a panelist for this presentation.
Preserving Issues for Appeal through Motion Practice, NACDL Death Penalty Seminar, Birmingham, AL
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Murder’s Mayhem on the Fourth Amendment, Lorman Education Group Seminar, Chicago, IL
Lorman Education Group
The Use of Davis v. Washington in the Defense of Domestic Violence Cases, IACDL Fall Seminar, Champaign, IL
Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Developing Forensic Theories in Criminal Cases, NDIA Annual Conference, Chicago, IL
National Defender Investigation Association
Ethical Issues for the Criminal Defense Specialist, NDIA Annual Conference, Chicago, IL
National Defender Investigation Association
I was a panelist for this presentation.
Preparing to Cross-Examine an Expert Witness, MSPD Annual Training Conference, Branson, MO
Missouri State Public Defender's Office
Awards
Presidential Commendation
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Presidential Commendation
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Presidential Commendation
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Presidential Service Appreciation Award
llinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Presidential Commendation
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Presidential Commendation
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Professional Associations
State Bar of Illinois  # 6217067
Member
Current
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Chicago Bar Association
Member
- Current
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Women's Criminal Defense Bar Association
Member
- Current
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National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Member of Board of Directors
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Activities: I have also previously served on their Board of Directors from 2002-2007 and from 2010-2016.
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Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Past-President
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Activities: I served as President of the Organization for 2 years after previously having served as First Vice President, Second Vice President, and as a member of their Board of Directors. I previously served as Chair of their CLE committee where I started IACDL's popular Annual Defending Violent Crimes Seminar held every year in November in Chicago. In 2017, I co-authored an amicus brief to the United States Supreme Court for IACDL in United States v. Rod Blagojevich.
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Illinois
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Northern District of Illinois
ID Number: General and Trial Bars
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7th Circuit
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U.S. Supreme Court
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Fees
  • Free Consultation
    I give free initial consultations for all prospective clients. Nobody gets billed until a retainer agreement is signed. My Office also has a policy that there is never any billing for time spent discussing and clarifying fees for the client.
  • Credit Cards Accepted
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    My current retainer fee schedule is based on hourly rates of $450.00 per hour for time spent on the case and $150.00 per hour for travel time.
Practice Areas
Criminal Law
Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
DUI & DWI
Domestic Violence
Domestic Violence Criminal Defense, Domestic Violence Restraining Orders
Juvenile Law
White Collar Crime
Cannabis & Marijuana Law
Languages
  • English
  • Italian
  • Russian
  • Spanish
Legal Answers
Q. if a search warrant is obtained for a weapon and drugs r found in a closed drawer can the party be. charged w drugs
A: There isn't enough information here to answer the question for certain. One would have to review the police reports and the warrant application, as well as any camera footage because in every case where someone wants to challenge a search, each search is fact specific where the presence or absence of something may make a difference.

The best answer is it's possible.
Q. Do people in stolen vehicles get 4th amendment rights? Does it matter if they know that the vehicle is stolen?
A: People have 4th Amendment rights to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. The question here, is whether the search or seizure was reasonable.

There isn't enough information to answer the question. You need to see an experienced criminal defense lawyer to answer whether there was a 4th Amendment violation by law enforcement, and if so, does that help you?

There also isn't enough information regarding the issue of knowledge to answer your question. It's not clear based on your post what the charges are.

Please go see a good criminal defense lawyer on an appointment in person to talk about these issues. Many offer free consultations.
Q. Can a Psychopath and serial killer argue and win for a plea of insanity based on Illinois law?
A: Very few things in life are impossible.

That being said, it is extremely difficult for anyone to win an insanity defense, especially in the State of Illinois.

The idea that lots of people raise the insanity defense and "get off" is frankly, a lie.

The insanity defense is raised in less than 1 percent of all criminal cases.

The insanity defense is successful in less than 1 percent of the cases where it is raised.

When people are found "not guilty by reason of insanity", they are often committed for a long time in a Department of Human Services locked facility.

Illinois law requires, in order to be found not guilty by reason of insanity that the person not be able to appreciate the criminality of their conduct. In other words, one cannot distinguish between right and wrong.

Whether a serial killer meets this criteria will depend heavily on the nature of his or her psychiatric illness. Many don't. But some may.

One must evaluate each case individually rather than based on a group stereotype.
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Websites & Blogs
Website
Website for the Law Office of William Wolf, LLC.
Blog
The Wolf Carpenter Blog
Blog
Forensic Science in Criminal Defense
Contact & Map
The Law Office of William Wolf, LLC
35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1980
Chicago, IL 60601
Telephone: (312) 881-9899
Cell: (312) 888-1124
Fax: (312) 873-4339
Monday: 9 AM - 7 PM
Tuesday: 9 AM - 7 PM
Wednesday: 9 AM - 7 PM
Thursday: 9 AM - 7 PM
Friday: 9 AM - 7 PM
Saturday: 10 AM - 2 PM (Today)
Sunday: 10 AM - 2 PM
Notice: Available by appointment and for evening emergencies