Attorney Profiles
Mr. Donahue was appointed by the court to serve as Special Prosecutor in 1984 to examine the leaking of privileged information in juvenile court. He is a fellow in the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers, co-founder and Charter President of the DuPage Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, past Chair of the Criminal Law Committee, President of the DuPage County Bar (1992-1993) and Chair of the Illinois State Bar Criminal Justice Section (1992-1993). He has been certified by the Illinois Supreme Court to act as lead counsel in death penalty cases, and screens other attorneys for certification.
In June of 2000, Mr. Donahue was recognized by his peers as Lawyer of the Year. On March 23, 2007, Mr. Donahue was inducted as a laureate of the Illinois Bar Association, joining a very select group of attorneys ever bestowed with this honor.
Mr. Donahue has authored numerous articles on criminal practice and lectured in various areas of criminal defense, including drug cases, sexual abuse, DUIs, DNA evidence, eavesdropping, and defenses in homicide cases. He has been selected to draft legal briefs on behalf of the Illinois State Bar Association in two important cases before the Illinois Supreme Court: People v. James, and King v. Secretary of State Ryan. The Bar's position was upheld by the Supreme Court in both cases.
In the past several years, in addition to numerous acquittals in drunk-driving cases, he has obtained favorable jury verdicts in several well-publicized sex abuse cases, reckless homicides, and other serious felony cases, including the last known acquittal in Illinois in the defense of attempted murder based upon organic brain syndrome, and an acquittal in a 1st Degree Murder case involving a child victim. Mr. Donahue has been given the highest possible rating both by Martindale-Hubbell and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Guest speaker (2003): American Association of Psychiatry & the Law; Edward Hospital, Sexual Abuse Seminar; Kane County Bar Association on sentencing, and DuPage County Bar on effective closing arguments.
Areas of Practice:
Criminal Defense
Appeals
DUI
Reckless Homicide
Sex Abuse
Capital Cases
Litigation Percentage:
50% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions:
Illinois, 1971
Education:
Loyola University Chicago School of Law, 1971
Loyola University, 1967
Published Works:
Emergency Blood Tests: New Road Around Fourth Amendment, DuPage Bar Brief, 1992
Sufficiency of Criminal Complaints: A Separate Standard for Traffic Offenses, Illinois State Bar Section Newsletter, 1988
Representative Cases:
People v. Marilyn Lemak
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Professor of Criminal Justice, Triton College, 1971 - 1974
Lecturer, Criminal Justice
Honors and Awards:
Blue Key Honor Society
Highest Rating, AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell
Highest Rating, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
Attorney Laureate, Illinois State Bar Associaton
Super Lawyers, Chicago Magazine
Professional Associations and Memberships:
DuPage County Bar Association, 1992 - 1993
PresidentDuPage County Bar Association, 1992 - 1993
Chairman, Judiciary CommitteeKane County Bar Association
MemberChicago Bar Association, 1992 - 1993
Chairman, Criminal Justice SectionIllinois State Bar Association, 1992 - 1993
Chairman, Criminal Justice SectionDuPage County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 1975 - 1976
Charter PresidentDuPage County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, 1978 - 1979
Charter PresidentNational Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Member
Past Employment Positions:
DuPage County, Special Prosecutor, 1982 - 1984
