To have an attorney appointed, a defendant must disclose financial information to the court. Failure to comply with this procedure may result in unnecessary court appearances. By law, a court appointed lawyer cannot represent a defendant in contesting any administrative driver's license suspension resulting from an arrest for driving under the influence either before the court or the secretary of state. Right to a jury trial Persons charged with a violation of an Illinois state law have a constitutional right to trial by jury. Right of confrontation Every person accused of a violation has the right to have witnesses brought to court to testify in his or her presence.
Every person has the right to say nothing and require the prosecutor to prove the charges.
Municipal ordinance violations require proof by the preponderance of the evidence. The silence of the defendant at trial will not be considered in deciding whether the case has been proved. Right to an appeal Every person found guilty of a traffic violation has the right to an appeal to the appellate court. An appeal is not a re-trial. New evidence such as testimony, photographs, diagrams and other exhibits not produced at the time of trial cannot be given to the appellate court.