Free Consultation
$0 first 20 minutes
Gregory W. O'Reilly
also known as Greg, O'Reilly
About Gregory
Biography
Former Chief Public Defender of Second Municipal Division (Chicago north side and north suburbs), and the Forensic Science Division. Litigated complex cases, such as acquittal of police officer charged with sexual assault based on DNA, re-instated to the department; and case that exposed forensic misconduct, and obtained client’s exoneration of serial rape charges after 9 years in prison, featured on Dateline NBC, A & E’s Investigative Reports, and TLC’s Secrets of Forensic Science. Also experienced in criminal justice policy, legislative affairs, testified at hundreds of hearings in the Illinois General Assembly, and author of numerous articles.
Practice Areas
5
Practice Areas
Criminal Defense
85%
41 years | 1,000 cases
Speeding and Traffic Ticket
10%
14 years
DUI and DWI
2%
14 years
Fees and Rates
Cost
Retainer
Sometimes
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.
Search our directory
Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.
Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.
Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.
Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Illinois for 41 years
State: Illinois
Acquired: 1984
No misconduct found
Location
Law Office of Gregory W. O'Reilly
1187 Wilmette Ave # 280, Wilmette, IL, 60091-2719
Gallery
Ad
Transform legal challenges into solutions.
Connect now to review your situation.
Gregory W. O'Reilly's Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 5 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by Michael | January 29, 2020 | Consulted Attorney
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
Specialist
Greg is unfailingly thorough, and his professionalism is top tier. He's extremely empathetic, and has extensive experience in a multitude of law fields. He was very friendly, and provided me with decision-useful information, thank goodness! I definitely recommend Greg!
Posted by anonymous | October 3, 2015 | Consulted Attorney
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
Thumbs up
I'm in a financial situation and can't afford, well, anything! So I posted a question and he gave a nice informed and helpful response. Thanks for being understanding of those less fortunate and staying professional!
Posted by Richard | September 4, 2015 | Consulted Attorney
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
Excellent Trial Lawyer
Greg O'Reilly is an exceptionally smart trial attorney. He has 30 years of experience as a trial attorney and has tried numerous complex cases. He is particularly gifted at litigating complex cases involving various forms of forensic evidence, including DNA, pattern evidence, and digital forensics. H...
Posted by Richard | September 3, 2015 | Consulted Attorney
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
Exceptional Lawyer and Litigator
Greg O'Reilly is an exceptionally smart trial attorney. He has 30 years of experience as a trial attorney and has tried numerous complex cases. He is particularly gifted at litigating complex cases involving various forms of forensic evidence, including DNA, pattern evidence, and digital forensics....
Posted by anonymous | July 22, 2014
Ex lawyer
Dude won my case few years ago now I got real job and I went through four dudes before he took case and they was bs and wanted me to cop out
Gregory W. O'Reilly's Lawyer Endorsements
"Excellent Trial Lawyer! Greg O'Reilly is an exceptionally smart trial attorney. He has 30 years of experience as a trial attorney and has tried numerous complex cases. He is particularly gifted at litigating complex cases involving various forms of forensic evidence, including DNA, pattern evidence, and digital forensics. He also contributed to the development the rule of discovery in DNA cases. I had the privilege of working with Greg for several years, and I know first hand how thoroughly and insightfully he analyzed and prepared for trial. He is excellent in pre-trial litigation and is a skillful cross-examiner. Clients fortunate enough to retain Greg would be represented by a gifted, vigorous, highly intelligent trial attorney"
No Endorsement Data Available Yet
This attorney hasn't created any attorney endorsements recently on Avvo.
Experience
Honors
2004
Special Community Justice Award, Illinois Academy of Criminology
2003
Reverend Willie Baker Award, Citizens Alert
1998
Illinois Public Defender Association Award, Illinois Public Defender Association
Work Experience
2015 - Present
Attorney-At-Law, Law Office of Gregory W. O'Reilly
2013 - 2015
Chief, District Two, Skokie IL, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
2003 - 2013
Chief, Forensic Science Division, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
2001 - 2007
Adjunct Lecturer, DePaul College of Law
2000 - 2003
Supervisor, Forensic Science Division, Law Office Of The Cook County Public Defender
2000 - 2016
Adjunct Lecturer, University Of Illinois At Chicago
1997 - 2000
Criminal Justice Counsel, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
1991 - 1997
Legislative Liason, Law Office Of The Cook County Public Defender
1988 - 1991
Felony Trial Counsel, Law Office Of The Cook County Public Defender
1988 - 1988
First Municipal Division Attorney, Law Office Of The Cook County Public Defender
1985 - 1987
Appellate Division Attorney, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
Associations
2000 - Present
University of Illinois, Chicago, Department of Criminology, Law, and JusticeAdjunct Lecturer
1990 - Present
Federal Trial Bar, Northern District of IllinoisMember
1990 - Present
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh CircuitRoll of Attorneys
1990 - Present
United States Supreme CourtMember of the Bar
1985 - Present
United States District Court, for the Northern District of IllinoisMember of the Bar
2007 - 2007
American Bar Association, Justice Standards Preliminary DNA StudyAppointee and Member
2005 - 2010
State of Illinois, Illinois Laboratory Advisory BoardAppointee and Member
2003 - 2011
Illinois Capital Litigation Trial BarLead Counsel
2002 - 2004
National Institute of Justice, Technical Working Group for Mass Fatality IdentificationAppointee and Member
2000 - 2000
Illinois Senate Minority Leader Emil Jones’ Task Force on Reforming the Death PenaltyAppointee and Member
1999 - 2006
American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Criminal Justice SectionMember
1992 - 2003
Illinois State Bar Association, Justice Section CouncilAppointee and Member
1985 - 2003
Illinois State Bar Association, Criminal Justice SectionMember
1985 - 2000
American Bar Association, Criminal Justice SectionMember
1985 - 2000
Chicago Bar Association, Criminal Law CommitteeChair, and Committee Member
Sample of Legal Cases
People v. N.B.
Not Guilty
People v J
Reversed on appeal after trial court finding of guilty; decision vacated upon client's death
People v. LB
Guilty
People v. JB
Jury rejects government theory client shooter in homicide; finding of guilty on accountability count
People v. H
Dismissed after hung jury
People v. L
Not guilty
People v. G
Not guilty
People v. JG
Capital case; jury verdict of No Death Penalty
People v. D
Not guilty
People v. G
Capial case; result: no death penalty imposed
People v H
Acquittal
EH v. Illinois
Habeas corpus granted - client ordered released
People v. W
Exonneration
People v. R
Not guilty, murder; guilty of second degree murder
People v. P
Statute found unconstitutional
Education
1985
Loyola University Chicago
MA - Masters
1984
Loyola University Chicago
JD - Juris Doctor
1981
Loyola University of Chicago
Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2015
ForenSecure'15 Cyber Security & Forensics Conference
You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know: Technology, Surveillance, and Rights
2014
ForenSecure'14 Cyber Security & Forensics ConferenceApril 18, 2014.
Courts Must Collaborate with Higher Education to Master the Challenge of New Communications Technolog
2013
ForenSecure'13 Cyber Security & Forensics Conference
Where have you have been? Where Are You Now? Historical Cell Site Analysis and Expectations of Privacy
2011
CLE: Science and the Law
CLE: Introduction to Forensic DNA Analysis
2009
CLE: Indigent Defense: Three Days in a Nutshell
CLE: Introduction to Fingerprint Evidence
2009
CLE: Indigent Defense: Three Days in a Nutshell
CLE: Introduction to DNA Evidence
2009
CLE: Indigent Defense: Three Days in a Nutshell
CLE: Using and Challenging Scientific Evidence
2008
Upfront with Jessie Jackson, Television
DNA Testing and Innocence
2008
National Police Automated Fingerprint Identification System (“AFIS”) Conference
Defense Counsel and Fingerprints, National Police Automated Fingerprint Identification System
2007
CLE: Northwestern University Short Course for Prosecutors and Defense Attorneys
CLE: Frye and Daubert
2005
American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Annual Conference
Don’t Tell the Defense
2003
CLE: Science in the Courtroom for the 21st Century, Center for Law and Science
CLE: Introduction to Forensic DNA
2003
Annual Conference, American Academy of Forensic Sciences
How Good is that Laboratory? Accreditation Standards: Comparing ASCLAD/LAB, ISO Standards, and CLIA
2002
Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee, Subject Matter hearing on the Death Penalty
DNA Testing, Present and Future
2002
CLE: National Legal Aid and Defender Association Annual Conference
CLE: Establishing Forensic Science Units for Public Defender Offices
2002
Annual Meeting, American Academy of Forensic Sciences
Preserving Evidence for Forensic Testing
2002
American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Annual Conference
Digital Discovery in STR/DNA Cases
2000
Miscarriages of Justice Conference
Post Trial DNA Testing
2000
CLE: Illinois State Bar Association, Annual Conference
CLE: Someone May be Listening
1998
Conference on Wrongful Convictions and the Death Penalty
Post Trial DNA Testing
1997
CLE: Illinois State Bar Association Criminal Law Training Seminar
CLE: Illinois Sentencing: History and Philosophy
1994
Chicago Land Television News. (CLTV)
Debate with Chief Cook County State’s Attorney Jack O’Malley on stalking laws
1993
Chicago Land Television News Debate-Television
Debate with Chicago Alderman Mike Wojick on Chicago’s gang loitering ordinance
Publications
2023
The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology
England Limits the Right to Silence and Moves Towards an Inquisitorial System of Justice; first published 1994, in 2023 a free PDF made available, and 115 Google Scholar citations, 31 since 2019, including law reviews and books in numerous countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, China, Turkey, Israel, and Canada; downloaded more than 13,000 times
2022
Loyola Law Journal, cited by Illinois Supreme Court in PEOPLE , v. DORSEY, 83 N.E.3d 715 .
Truth in Sentencing: Illinois Adds Yet Another Layer of Reform to its Complicated Code of Corrections. In 2022 made available as free PDF. Review of Illinois sentencing history. First published 1996
2020
2018
2002
2001
Litigation, American Bar Association
Forensic DNA Case Evaluation and Litigation (with Alan Sincox)
1997
The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology
Comment on Ingraham’s “Moral Duty” to Talk and the Right to Silence
1997
1997
Judicature
Opening up Argentina’s Courts
1996
Judicature
Developing the Right to Counsel in Ethiopia (with Rita A. Fry)
1995
Illinois Bar Journal
Illinois Lifts The Veil on Juvenile Conviction Records
1994
Chicago Bar Association Record
Making Drug Treatment Available to Families Plagued by Addiction (with Rita A. Fry)
1992
Illinois Bar Journal
Establishing a Public Defender Independent of the Judiciary
1992
Chicago Bar Association Record
“No-Knock” Warrants: Expanding Police Power To Your Door
1988
Office of the Public Defender
The Municipal Trial Manual
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
Is it possible to get in contact with my husband's public defender without him knowing it?
17 Feb 2023
Q&A
If a gun does not have a fireing pin in it can I still be charged with possession of a firearm?
15 Feb 2023
Q&A
When bac unit fails calibration test requirements can I challenge a second site test results
16 Feb 2017