Median resolution time for a Cook County misdemeanor DUI runs 6 to 12 months. Cases resolving by negotiated plea at pretrial conference close on the faster end. Cases going to trial or requiring expert litigation on chemical evidence extend to 14 to 18 months. Aggravated felony DUI cases at Leighton typically take 18 to 30 months. The chicagoduilawyer.net brand explains this timeline to every client because expectations drive case management: rushing to plead often locks in avoidable consequences, and patience through the discovery and motion phases is where charge reductions and dismissals actually happen. Time is a defense asset when used strategically.
