State Rep. Rick Ryan is expanding legal assistance for Illinois drivers charged with driving under the influence (DUI) with a new measure that will allow public defenders to represent DUI clients in both criminal cases and civil hearings.

“If a driver charged with DUI requires a public defender to help with their criminal case, then there’s no reason that the same lawyer shouldn’t be able to assist their client in the civil part of the case,” Ryan said.

“We want to make sure that the system is offering all defendants equitable services.”

Under the current law, public defenders are assigned to represent defendants who need free services for criminal cases, but defendants are not given legal assistance for statutory summary suspension hearings, where drivers with a DUI may have their licenses revoked and suspended.

House Bill 4217 would amend this to allow public defenders the choice of extending this representation.

“Many defendants can’t afford a private attorney to help with the civil portion of their case,” Ryan said. “It’s not fair that they should have to try to find that assistance when other defendants can easily afford help. The free option should at least be available for defendants who need it.”