DRD Law, LLC

DRD Law, LLC Chicago's top criminal defense firm, led by David R. Drwencke. Aggressive, passionate, dedicated.

DRD Law, LLC is Chicago's best and most aggressive criminal defense law firm. We focus exclusively on criminal defense cases ranging from misdemeanors to the most serious felony charges. Lead by founding partner David Drwencke, DRD Law is known for winning cases and getting the best possible results for our clients.

05/29/2026

The Huge Sentencing Gap Between Murder Charges

David Drwencke explains that the difference between first and second degree murder can mean decades in prison. Sentencing rules make the outcome dramatically different.

Click the bio link to listen to the full episode
https://bio.link/daviddrwencke

05/28/2026

That TikTok you posted to your friends? A prosecutor can subpoena it. Your face is on it. Your voice is on it. Someone can take the stand and say that is you. 🎥⚖️

Social media posts are not just content. In a courtroom they are statements. And statements made by the defendant are exactly what a state's attorney wants.

Drugs on camera. Weapons. Violent behavior. Even just being around it while someone else records. All of it gets pulled. TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat. They all respond to subpoenas. The police know this and they use it constantly.

Deleting it after the fact is not a guaranteed fix. They can still get it.

You would never walk into a police station and record yourself admitting something. But that is exactly what posting this content is. You are making a statement. On camera. With your face and your voice attached to it.

Do not be a witness against yourself. 🙏

Questions about your situation? DM directly.

05/28/2026

First vs. Second Degree Murder in Illinois

Second-degree murder often involves the unreasonable use of self-defense. It happens when someone causes a death claiming self-defense, but a judge or jury finds the force used was excessive or unnecessary. First-degree murder, by contrast, involves intentional or knowing killing without legal justification.

Click the bio link to listen to the full episode
https://bio.link/daviddrwencke

05/27/2026

"I shouldn't have done that."
"Just stay quiet."
"I was there."
Three texts. Sent in a panic. Used in court against you. 📱⚖️

On their own they might mean nothing. But a prosecutor will take each one of those messages and argue consciousness of guilt. An admission. A coverup. Evidence that you knew exactly what happened and tried to hide it.

I tell every client the same thing. Do not give the state evidence they do not already have.

The moment something happens, people reach for their phone. They text friends. They try to get ahead of it. And in doing so they hand prosecutors exactly what they need.

Deleted messages are not safe either. iMessage. RCS. It does not matter. If they subpoena your records or dump your phone, deleted messages can still be recovered.

The safest place to be after an incident is completely off your phone and not making any statements to anyone.

Silence is not guilt. Silence is your right. Use it. 🙏
Questions about your case? DM directly.

Some defenses admit contact but deny causation. David Drwencke shares how medical and toxicology evidence can change eve...
05/27/2026

Some defenses admit contact but deny causation. David Drwencke shares how medical and toxicology evidence can change everything.

Click the bio link to watch the full episode
https://bio.link/daviddrwencke

05/26/2026

"Are you even working on my case?"
It is one of the most common messages we receive. And it is completely understandable. 🙏
Here is what is actually happening behind the scenes.

Criminal cases move slowly by design. Status dates are typically 30 to 60 days apart. In between those dates we are working through discovery, having conversations with the state's attorney about potential offers, and building strategy around what the evidence actually shows.

Until something new happens, there is nothing new to tell you. We are not going to call just to say hello. You hired us to work, not to fill your inbox with updates that contain zero new information.
No news is not bad news. It is just the reality of how the system moves.

That said, if you are anxious, if you have questions, if something is keeping you up at night about your case, call. Text. Email. We will always provide an update on where things stand even if that update is simply that we are still waiting.

You are not being ignored. You are being represented. There is a difference. ⚖️
If you have questions about how criminal cases work or what to expect during yours, drop them in the comments.

05/26/2026

Why Lesser Charges Matter in Murder Trials

David Drwencke explains that the defense must show enough evidence for the jury to consider lesser charges. Those options can mean the difference between freedom and decades in prison.

Click the bio link to listen to the full episode
https://bio.link/daviddrwencke

05/25/2026

Let me be real with you. Public defenders are genuinely good attorneys. 🙌

They know the courtroom. They know the judges. They have working relationships with state's attorneys built over years of showing up in that same building every single day. That familiarity has real value.
But here is what nobody tells you.

That same familiarity cuts both ways. When you are in that courtroom every day, you have relationships to protect. Toes to avoid stepping on. A judge you will stand in front of again tomorrow and the day after.

A private attorney does not live in that courtroom. I was hired by you, for you, with one job. Get you the best possible result. No relationships to manage. No internal politics to navigate. Just your case.

And the access question is real. Public defenders are underpaid and overworked. That is not an insult. It is a systemic problem. The caseloads are brutal and your file is one of hundreds.

With a private attorney you get the phone calls returned. You get the strategy conversations. You get someone tracking your case like it is the only one. ⚖️

Both options can help you. Only one of them is built entirely around you.
Drop your questions below or reach out directly to talk through your situation.

First degree murder in Illinois can mean 20 to 60 years at 100 percent time. David Drwencke explains why those numbers s...
05/25/2026

First degree murder in Illinois can mean 20 to 60 years at 100 percent time. David Drwencke explains why those numbers shape every defense strategy.

Click the bio link to listen to the full episode
https://bio.link/daviddrwencke

05/24/2026

When Self-Defense Becomes Second Degree Murder

David Drwencke explains that a self-defense claim can turn into second degree murder if a jury believes too much force was used. These cases depend heavily on the facts.

Click the bio link to listen to the full episode
https://bio.link/daviddrwencke

05/23/2026

What Counts as First-Degree Murder in Illinois

First-degree murder occurs when someone intentionally or knowingly kills another person without legal justification, like self-defense. Accidental shootings, like a gun going off while cleaning, do not count as first-degree murder.

Click the bio link to listen to the full episode
https://bio.link/daviddrwencke

Address

332 S. Michigan Avenue , #900
Chicago, IL
60604

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