Personalized and high quality criminal defense representation. 40+ years of experience.
Before choosing a lawyer, I believe it is appropriate for prospective clients to know a little bit more about the counsel they select. I am very proud of my reputation in the legal community, as evidenced by the professional awards and recognitions I have received over my 42 years in practice. But there is more about me, of which I am also very proud.
My inspiration to become a lawyer began when I was a little boy, and it arose from my relationships with both of my grandfathers. Neither of them had the opportunity for educations beyond eighth grade, yet I learned much from them in the way they respected scholastic achievement, their integrity, and the way they treated other people. Grandpa Blomquist was a night watchman/custodian at the University of Michigan’s Law School. I spent my summers in Ann Arbor with my grandparents, and often joined him in his nighttime duties around the Law School complex. One night, he took me to the Law Library, and there I saw a sea of green lights at the tables in the library, which were filled with young people reading. It was after midnight, and I asked my grandfather what they were doing up so late. He indicated that they were studying for their Exams that were about to begin. The study habits and perseverance of these soon-to-be lawyers impressed me very much. I learned later that the library was open through the entire night, and closed only for an hour at 8:00 a.m., when the exams began. Later, I, too, learned the value of time management and the pressure of law school exams, which often took me deep into the early morning hours as well.
My other grandfather, Grandpa Nemcek was an immigrant from Slovakia. During the depression he lost his first home, but through hard work delivering milk and coal to feed his wife and five kids, earned enough money for a new one.
In the early 1950’s that home became a part of the right-of-way for the construction of a new expressway system in Chicago. His house sat virtually at the intersection where the Edens meets the Kennedy today. He fought his own case for fair compensation because he couldn’t afford a lawyer. I went with the family to watch him argue for relief before a Judge, and against trained lawyers. I watched how the system worked, and the deference the Judge gave to him, as my grandfather did the best he could with his limited education and his accent. He did win a greater award. So, the family’s experience taught me much about the effect of legal proceedings upon ordinary people.
I grew up in Mount Prospect and attended Prospect High School. There, I participated in many activities, including sports, and am honored to be the inaugural member of the Prospect High School Hall of Fame. This award has nothing to do with my achievements as an athlete, but is devoted solely to the things I accomplished beyond the four corners of the basketball court. From there, I attended Western Illinois University, again achieving success through hard work, which I owe to my two grandfathers who continued to inspire me. Law School was next on my agenda, but finances pressed upon me. So I taught in the Mount Prospect school system as a teacher at Lincoln Junior High School for four years. Those experiences and memories carry with me in everything I do. I attended night school at Chicago-Kent College of Law, receiving my degree in 3 ½ years, and thereupon embarked upon the first part of my legal career as an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Criminal Division of the State’s Attorney’s Office of Cook County.
From that great experience learning how to try cases against excellent lawyers, I opened a private practice and have been serving since 1978 as the Prosecutor and one of the Village Attorneys for Arlington Heights. I remain very proud of that reputation, to which I again attribute to the early learning process from those who supported me in my dream to become a lawyer. In all of my experiences as a trial attorney in criminal courts, I have defended cases ranging from simple traffic matters, to DUI’s, to murder and other crimes. I have been a part of appeals in the U.S. Supreme Court and the Illinois Supreme and Appellate Courts.
Each case I have defended reminds me of the great anxiety my own family experienced when they faced off against the government in court.
I never forget that all legal cases are really people involvements, in which lawyers are called upon to address events and circumstances which press very hard upon accused people. I am well aware that I never get to meet people at a good time in their lives. They are struggling within their fear, something new and something inconvenient, fighting their cases in a place where they are not comfortable. The thing that drives me the most, and the hardest, is that each day I take on the privilege of representing those in need of my skills as an advocate.
Languages spoken
English
Massucci, Blomquist, Anderson & Dunn
750 W Northwest Hwy
Arlington Heights, IL, 60004-5399
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
IL | Active And Authorized To Practice Law | 1973 | 03/06/2022 |
Legal answers | 0 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
Top 1% America's Most Honored Lawyers | American Registry | 2020 |
AV Preeminent Rated Attorney | Martindale-Hubbell | 2020 |
Top Lawyers in Chicago | National Law Journal | 2020 |
Leading Lawyer | Leading Lawyers Network | 2018 |
Alumni Achievement Award | Chicago Kent College of Law | 2018 |
Leading Lawyer | Leading Lawyers Network | 2015 |
Addis Hull Award | Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education | 2014 |
Professional Excellence | Northwest Suburban Bar Association | 2006 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Sr. Partner | Massucci, Blomquist, Anderson & Dunn | 1977 - Present |
Legal Counsel & Prosecutor | Village of Arlington Heights | 1977 - Present |
Assistant State's Attorney | Cook County State's Attorney's Offce | 1973 - 1977 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers | Member | 1981 - Present |
Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys | Member | 1980 - Present |
Illinois State Bar Association | Member | 1973 - Present |
Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education | Board of Directors | 1989 - 1998 |
Northwest Suburban Bar Association | President | 1986 - 1987 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education - Co-Editor and Author | Defending DUI and Related Cases (1995 to present Editions) | 2020 |
Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education - Co-Editor and Author | Municipal Law: Organization, Operation, and Governance (Illinois) (2012 to present Editions) | 2020 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
Chicago-Kent College of Law Illinois Institute of Technology | JD - Juris Doctor | 1973 |
Northeastern Illinois University | Post graduate courses in Child Development | 1970 |
Western Illinois University | BA - Bachelor of Arts History | 1968 |
Posted by Alex
October 8, 2017
Posted by anonymous
January 19, 2015
Posted by anonymous
January 11, 2014
Andy Sotiropoulos, Unknown Attorney on Dec 30, 2019
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Brilliant DUI attorney. A legend in Illinois courtrooms. First class gentleman as well.
Gary Newland, DUI and DWI Attorney on Mar 3, 2017
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"Nobody does it better. Makes me feel sad for the rest". Nobody does it half as good as Ernie, you are the best! Ernest Bloomquist has set the bar high and has been a great mentor. Thank you Ernie!
Andy Sotiropoulos, Unknown Attorney on Dec 30, 2019
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Brilliant DUI attorney. A legend in Illinois courtrooms. First class gentleman as well.
Gary Newland, DUI and DWI Attorney on Mar 3, 2017
Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter
"Nobody does it better. Makes me feel sad for the rest". Nobody does it half as good as Ernie, you are the best! Ernest Bloomquist has set the bar high and has been a great mentor. Thank you Ernie!
Jason Stevens, DUI and DWI Attorney on Nov 4, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Blomquist has been a luminary in the field of DUI defense for so many years his reputation speaks for himself. There is not an attorney I know of who will do a better job defending a DUI case.
Larry Dohman, DUI and DWI Attorney on Oct 30, 2015
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I have had the pleasure of knowing Ernie for more than 30 years. Simply, Ernie is one of the best and most respected DUI attorneys in Cook County. I have the utmost respect for Mr. Blomquist and I highly recommend him as an attorney on any criminal matter. I endorse this lawyer.
Moe Ahmad, DUI and DWI Attorney on Feb 6, 2015
Relationship: Worked together on matter
Ernie is a gentleman and a scholar. I originally met Mr. Blomquist when I was an assistant states attorney many years ago. I immediately recognized him as the defense attorney that commands the respect of the judges, prosecutors, police officers and court staff. As we went head to head at trial, I soon realized why he had (has) such an excellent reputation. Now that I am in private practice, we have the privilege of working together defending cases. His legal skills are second to none. I wholeheartedly endorse and recommend Mr. Blomquist. He has a brilliant legal mind and is one of the best attorneys in the community! You will be in excellent hands with him.
Thomas Glasgow, Criminal defense Attorney on Sep 10, 2013
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I have had the pleasure of knowing Ernie for the past 20 years that I have practiced and he has nothing but the highest regard in the legal community. He has been a mentor and a teacher to many younger attorneys and has helped to make the legal profession much better as a result of his efforts. He is respected and revered by his peers for his knowledge of DUI and criminal law. His caring for his clients is unparalleled. I highly recommend him.
Cash, Check, Credit Card