Drawing upon his eight years of experience as an Assistant State’s Attorney and seven years as a criminal defense attorney, Mr. Franks understands the intricacies of DUI and criminal defense, and consistently achieves outstanding results for his clients using his skill as a researcher, negotiator and advocate. Mr. Franks has successfully defended clients charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI), Reckless Driving and various traffic moving violations, as well as criminal charges ranging from petty offenses to Class X felonies. Mr. Franks also serves as a Commander in the United States Navy Reserve, where he has further honed his skills in strategic thinking and planning, and will develop a defense tailored to the particular circumstances of your case. He is a tough and skillful attorney--qualities that make him an effective courtroom advocate. He aggressively represents his clients from the beginning of a criminal investigation through trial.  Mr. Franks is committed to his clients and strives to provide them with the best defense.

In 2007, Mr. Franks was selected as a full member of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) Criminal Justice Section Council, a Council upon which he previously served from 1990 through 1999, reviewing and proposing legislation and providing input for the administration of the Illinois criminal court system. 

Mr. Franks is a past Chair (2006-2007) of the Illinois State Bar Association Traffic Laws and Courts Section Council. He continues to serve on the Council, where he has served since 2000, reviewing legislation and providing input for the administration of Illinois traffic courts. 

Mr. Franks is committed to continuing legal education.  Mr. Franks is a member of the National College for DUI Defense (see certificate below).

In July 2007, Mr. Franks attended an intensive DUI defense seminar conducted by the National College for DUI Defense in Cambridge Massachusetts. In April 2007, Mr. Franks attended a Continuing Legal Education seminar entitled “Procedural Techniques for Defending DUI,” sponsored by the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (see certificate below).

In March 2006, Mr. Franks attended a Continuing Legal Education seminar entitled “Successful Defense of DUI & Summary Suspension Cases", sponsored by the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (see certificate below).

Mr. Franks has also completed training in administering and evaluating Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST’s) according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) standards (see certificate below).

In addition, Mr. Franks has attended a seminar providing an orientation and overview of the Intoxilyzer EC/IR and EC/IR II breathalyzer machine (see certificate below).

Mr. Franks has served as a guest speaker for both in-state and out-of-state forums addressing DUI and traffic-related issues.   In May 2007, Mr. Franks outlined Illinois House Bill 300 during an Illinois State Bar Association-sponsored Continuing Legal Education Program entitled, The Study of Illinois DUI & Traffic Related Issues, in New Orleans , Louisiana. In March 2007, Mr. Franks outlined Illinois House Bill 300 during an Illinois State Bar Association-sponsored Continuing Legal Education Program in Springfield, Illinois. Illinois House Bill 300, signed into law and effective January 1, 2009, eliminates Judicial Driving Permits and requires motorists accused of DUI, and who wish to continue driving, to obtain a Monitoring Device Driver’s License (MDDL) by installing breath alcohol ignition interlock devices (BAIID) in their automobiles. In January 2007, Mrs. Franks was a panelist on Illinois Law, "DUI Issues: General and Specific," which aired on Chicago Cable Access Channel 21 Television.   In October 2006, Mr. Franks outlined new traffic legislation for an ISBA-sponsored Continuing Legal Education program, “Traffic Law Update,” in Rockford, Illinois. In March 2006, he outlined new traffic legislation, which went into effect January 1, 2006, for an ISBA-sponsored Continuing Legal Education programs, “Traffic Law Update,” in Oakbrook and Bloomington, Illinois. In March 2005, he outlined new legislation regarding DUI sentencing provisions during an ISBA-sponsored program, “DUI Means Defending, Understanding and Innovating”, in Oakbrook, Illinois. In March 2004, he participating on a panel addressing DUI “Trial Tips and Practice” during an ISBA-sponsored Continuing Legal Education Program presented by the ISBA Traffic Laws and Courts Section Council, “Traffic Law Hot Topics Update”, in Oakbrook, Illinois.

Mr. Franks is published in the area of criminal law. He has written various case summaries which have appeared in Illinois State Bar Association Criminal Justice Section Council Newsletters. As a prosecutor he co-authored, with a Public Defender and sitting Judge, articles regarding developments in criminal law, “Survey of Illinois Law: Criminal Law and Procedure,” which were published in the Southern Illinois University Law Journal. While in law school Mr. Franks researched and wrote an article about a then recent development in habeas corpus, which was later published in the Criminal Law Bulletin, a national publication.

Mr. Franks earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, and his law degree from the American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. Mr. Franks is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and McHenry County Bar Association. He is admitted to practice in the State of Illinois, before the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the United States Supreme Court.

SEMINAR SPEAKER

May 4 & 5, 2007
Illinois State Bar Association-sponsored Continuing Legal Education Program, The Study of Illinois DUI & Traffic Related Issues. Panel participant addressing DUI Defense and outlined Illinois House Bill 300.
New Orleans, Louisiana

March 3, 2007
Illinois State Bar Association-sponsored Continuing Legal Education Program, Traffic Law Update Seminar. Panel participant addressing Statutory Summary Suspension and DUI Defense, and outlined House Bill 300 proposed legislation. Effective January 1, 2009 Judicial Driving Permits are eliminated and motorists accused of DUI will be required to obtain a Monitoring Device Driver’s License (MDDL), by installing breath alcohol ignition interlock devices (BAIID) in their automobiles.
Springfield, Illinois

January 2, 9, 16 & 23, 2007
Chicago Cable Access Channel 21 Television, Panelist on Illinois Law, "DUI Issues: General and Specific."
Chicago, Illinois

October 28, 2006
Illinois State Bar Association-sponsored Continuing Legal Education Program, Traffic Law Update Seminar.  Outlined new traffic law legislation.
Northern Illinois University
Rockford, Illinois

March 24, 2006
Illinois State Bar Association-sponsored Continuing Legal Education Program, Traffic Law Update Seminar. Outlined new traffic legislation effective January 1, 2006.
Bloomington, Illinois

March 4, 2006
Illinois State Bar Association-sponsored Continuing Legal Education Program, Traffic Law Update Seminar. Outlined new traffic legislation effective January 1, 2006.
Oakbrook, Illinois

March 2005
Illinois State Bar Association-sponsored Continuing Legal Education Program, “DUI Means Defending, Understanding and Innovating” seminar. Outlined new legislation regarding DUI sentencing provisions.
Oakbrook, Illinois

March 2004
Illinois State Bar Association-sponsored Continuing Legal Education Program, Traffic Law Hot Topics Update. Panel participant addressing DUI “Trial Tips and Practice.”
Oakbrook, Illinois

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION

October 25-27, 2007

"DWI Means Defend With Ingenuity" DUI Defense Seminar conducted by the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National College for DUI Defense, Las Vegas, Nevada.

July 19-21, 2007

National College for DUI Defense. DUI Defense Seminar. Cambridge, Massachusetts.

April 26, 2007

“Procedural Techniques for Defending DUI,” sponsored by the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education. Chicago, Illinois. 

June 1 &2, 2006

Illinois Traffic Court Conference, Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois.

March 17, 2006

“Successful Defense of DUI & Summary Suspension Cases", sponsored by the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Chicago, Illinois.

ACTIVITIES/MEMBERSHIPS

Member, Illinois State Bar Association Criminal Justice Section Council
2007-Present
1990-1999

Member, National College for DUI Defense
2005-Present

Chair, Illinois State Bar Association Traffic Laws and Courts Section Council
2006-2007

Vice Chair, Illinois State Bar Association Traffic Laws and Courts Section Council
2005-2006

Secretary, Illinois State Bar Association Traffic Laws and Courts Section Council
2004-2005

Member, Illinois State Bar Association Traffic Laws and Courts Section Council
2000-Present

Member, Illinois State Bar Association General Practice, Small Firm and Solo
Practitioner Section Council
2000-2004

Fellow, Illinois Bar Foundation
2000-Present

Member, McHenry County Bar Association
1995-Present

Board of Trustees, Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS)
2002-2006

Naval Reserve Association

32nd Degree Mason

U.S. Navy (Active Duty-Lieutenant)
1980-1987

U.S. Navy Reserve (Commander-Retired)
August 1987 through September 2007

Military Decorations:
     - Defense Meritorious Service Medal
     - Joint Service Commendation Medal
     - Navy Commendation Medal (Awarded Three Times)
     - Navy Achievement Medal (Awarded Two Times)

PUBLICATIONS

Case Summary, People v. Sturgess, ISBA Traffic Laws and Courts Newsletter, March 2007, Vol. 16, No. 3

Case Summary, Kaiser v. Fleming, ISBA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Newsletter (November 2001, at 3)

Case Summary, In Re Marriage of Drysch, ISBA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Newsletter (October 2001, at 5)

Case Summary, People v. Every, Illinois State Bar Association Criminal Justice Newsletter (February 1999, at 6)

Case Summary, People v. Cortes, Illinois State Bar Association Criminal Justice Newsletter (April 1998, at 10)

Public Defender Stephen Baker, Assistant State’s Attorney David B. Franks and the Honorable Daniel T. Gillespie, Survey of Illinois Law: Criminal Law and Procedure, Southern Illinois University Law Journal (Summer 1996)

Case Summary, People v. Whitehead, Illinois State Bar Association Criminal Justice Newsletter (May 1996, at 8)

Case Summary, People v. Jimerson, Illinois State Bar Association Criminal Justice Newsletter (September 1995, at 1)

Public Defender Stephen Baker, Assistant State’s Attorney David B. Franks and the Honorable Daniel T. Gillespie, Survey of Illinois Law: Criminal Law and Procedure, Southern Illinois University Law Journal (Summer 1995)

Case Summary, People v. Mahaffey, Illinois State Bar Association Criminal Justice Newsletter (June 1995, at 3)

Case Summary, People v. Knuckles, Illinois State Bar Association Criminal Justice Newsletter (April 1994, at 6)

Case Summary, People v. Fassler, Illinois State Bar Association Criminal Justice Newsletter (February 1993, at 3)

Federal Court Discretion and the Exhaustion Doctrine: Granberry v. Greer, Criminal Law Bulletin (May 1990)

BAR ADMISSIONS

State of Illinois

Federal Bar for the Northern District of Illinois

United States Supreme Court