Donald Ramsell | Wheaton Criminal Lawyer

Donald John Ramsell

Donald John Ramsell

Criminal, Traffic, DUI-DWI, White Collar Crime, Felony, Expungement, Drug Crimes, Drug Possession, Drug Distribution, Drug Manufacturing, Violent Crimes, Assault, Battery, Domestic Violence, Sex Crimes, Sexual Assault, Crimes Against Children, Weapons Charges, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Traffic Crimes, Reckless Driving, Aggravated Speeding, Driving on Suspended License, Texting and Driving, Construction Zone Violations, School Zone Violations, CDL Violations, Theft, Retail Theft, Robbery, Grand Theft Auto, Juvenile Crimes, Arson Crimes, Probation Violations

When Everyone Else Is On Your Back, We Are On Your Side

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Experience: 41 years
Language(s): English

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Main Office

1121 E. Main Street
Suite 124
Saint Charles, IL 60174

Office Hours

Monday - Friday9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Other Locations

Lake in the Hills
9 Crystal Lake Road, Suite 220
Lake in the Hills, IL 60156
847-465-8743

Schaumburg
1900 E. Golf Road, Suite 950R
Schaumburg, IL 60173
847-465-8743

Naperville
1717 North Naperville Road, Suite 200
Naperville, IL 60563
630-256-8001

Wheaton
128 South County Farm Road, 3rd Floor
Wheaton, IL 60187
630-665-8780

Rolling Meadows
1813 Hicks Road, Suite B
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

Ramsell & Associates, LLC

About Donald

Donald J. Ramsell holds the distinguished position of being the sole Illinois DUI defense attorney to have ever argued an Illinois DUI case before the United States Supreme Court, a historic moment in the court's 213-year history.

In a landmark initiative in 2008, Ramsell spearheaded hearings demanded by the Illinois Supreme Court to scrutinize the reliability of the horizontal gaze nystagmus test utilized by police during field sobriety assessments. This pivotal issue continues to capture the attention of legal professionals nationwide.

The year 2007 saw Ramsell being honored as a Sustaining Member of the National College for DUI Defense, recognizing his substantial contributions to this specialized field of law.

His advocacy skills were on display in 2006 when Ramsell successfully secured orders mandating the Illinois State Police Breath Testing Section to extract and disclose the internal data from breath testing devices. This action uncovered widespread inaccuracies in the devices used throughout Illinois.

Donald Ramsell's legal expertise was acknowledged by Chicago Magazine in 2005 when he was designated as an "Illinois Super Lawyer," a title he has been awarded several times, most recently in 2025.

Further elevating his professional credentials, in 2005 Ramsell became the first attorney in Illinois to achieve Board Certification in DUI Defense, as per the American Bar Association’s standards, through the National College for DUI Defense.

Previously, in 2004, Ramsell was recognized by the Chicago Sun Times as one of the top five DUI Defense Attorneys in Illinois, affirming his rank among the elite in his field.

In 1999, Ramsell uncovered that the Department of Public Health had neglected essential accuracy tests on breath testing equipment. This discovery led to the suppression of flawed test results statewide and prompted a significant regulatory overhaul, transferring control of the program to the State Police.

This was preceded by a critical finding in 1998, where Ramsell exposed software manipulation in the Intoxilyzer 5000 (Series 6400 and 6600), which compromised the validity of numerous breathalyzer results across Illinois and led to a statewide inadmissibility of the flawed results.

In 1988, Ramsell brought to light falsifications in the statewide breath testing program's documentation, casting doubt on thousands of tests and instigating an immediate reassessment of the program's integrity.

Earlier, in 1986, his investigative efforts revealed that the same statewide program was employing dubious methods in certifying breathalyzers. His findings disputed thousands of test results and mandated immediate revisions to the program, marking the beginning of his long-standing commitment to ensuring fairness and accuracy in DUI enforcement.

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Experience

Owner

Ramsell & Associates, LLC

1986 - Present

Wheaton, Illinois

Partner

Behan Ramsell PLLC

2017 - 2017

Admission

Verified Arizona

2017

Verified Wisconsin

1989

Verified Illinois

1984

Education

Loyola University

B.S. (Criminal Justice)

1981

Recognitions & Achievements

Associations
  • U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society
  • National Association of Bar Presidents
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • National College of DUI Defense (Sustaining Membership Awarded July )
    2007
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • DuPage County Bar Association
  • Kane County Bar Association
  • Northwest Suburban Bar Association
  • Association of trial Lawyers of America
  • Illinois trial Lawyers Association
  • American Bar Association
Honors / Awards
  • Super Lawyer Thomson Reuters
    2017
  • Illinois Super Lawyer Thomson Reuters
    2016
  • Illinois Super Lawyer DUI Thomson Reuters
    2015
  • Illinois Super Lawyer DUI Illinois Super Lawyers
    2014
  • Illinois Super Lawyer DUI Illinois Super Lawyers
    2013
  • Illinois Super Lawyer DUI Illinois Super Lawyers
    2012
  • Illinois Super Lawyer DUI Illinois Super Lawyers
    2011
  • Illinois Super Lawyer DUI Illinois Super Lawyers
    2010
  • Dean's Award National College For DUI Defense
    2010
  • Gas Chromatography Testing Axion Analytical Laboratories
    2009
  • Illinois Super Lawyers DUI Illinois Super Lawyers
    2009
  • Board Certification in DUI Defense National College for DUI Defense
    2005
  • Certified Instructor Field Sobriety Testing LaPier and Associates
    2001
  • Outstanding Author DuPage County Bar Association
    1989

Notable Work

Publications

Thomson West publication Illinois DUI Law and Practice Guidebook

2017


National College for DUI Defense Winter Session Putting it all together A DUI case study

2017


DuPage Bar CLE DUI Defense 101

2017


Cook County Public Defender Nutshell Basic DUI Defense

2017


Thomson Reuters Illinois DUI Law and Practice Guidebook

2014


Mastering Scientific Evidence Mock DUI Trial Defense Lawyer

2014


Mastering Scientific Evidence Cross-Examining Blood Experts

2013


Illinois State Bar Association, Traffic Laws and Courts Section Defending Refusals in DUI Cases

2012


Thomson Reuters Illinois DUI Law & Practice Guidebook

2012


Intoxication Test Evidence (West) Nystagmus Testing for Alcohol and Drugs

2011


ISBA Traffic Law Newsletter Defending Refusals in DUI Jury Trials

2011


NCDD Winter Meeting DUI Case Highlights

2011


Illinois Traffic Law Seminar Issues in Illinois Drugged Driving

2011


Illinois Traffic Court Conference Drugged Driving Issues in Illinois

2011


DUI Traffic law Seminar Beat Field Sobriety Test in Illinois

2011


Advanced OVI Seminar Trying a Breath Test Case on a Shoe String Budget

2011


Reing a DWI Defendant in New York from Arraignment to Disposition DWI Test Defenses for Field Sobriety

present / 2010


Illinois Traffic Court Conference Breath Testing Issues in Illinois Science and Law

2010


Illinois DUI and Traffic Law Seminar Issues in Illinois DUI Drug Cases

2010


Defending DUI Cases Mock DUI Jury Trial

2010


Arkansas DUI Defense Seminar Closing Arguments in DUI Cases

2010


Thomson West publication Illinois DUI Law & Practice Guidebook

2010


Thomson West publication Understanding DUI Scientific Evidence

2009


National DUI Seminar Interlock Ignition Devices

2009


National DUI Seminar Sixth Amendment DUI Evidence

2009


Cook County Public Defenders Conference Attacking the Breathalyzer

2009


Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Mock DWI Trial Defense

2008


Illinois DUI and Traffic Seminar Illinois MDDP Law

2008


Michigan DUI Seminar DUI Jury Trial Techniques

2007


IICLE DUI Seminar Illinois Field Sobriety Tests

2007


ISBA Traffic Law Seminar Illinois DUI Defense

2006


IICLE DUI FIELD SOBRIETY TESTING CHAPTER

2004


DUI Defense Illinois DUI Defense

2003


Dupage County Bar Briefs Recent Developments in Illinois DUI Law

1999


DWI Law & Science Journal Cross-Examination of the Breath Alcohol Test Operator: Impeaching Testimony of the Observation-Period Requirement

1988

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