Aurora is the second-largest city in Illinois and one of the few cities in the state that spans multiple county lines. Depending on where within Aurora your arrest occurred, your case may be filed in DuPage County Circuit Court in Wheaton, Kane County Circuit Court in Geneva, or Will County Circuit Court in Joliet. McMahon Law Offices handles DuPage County cases. Contact us and we will confirm your jurisdiction immediately.
Criminal Defense in Aurora
For Aurora residents and visitors whose charges are filed in DuPage County, McMahon Law Offices provides experienced criminal defense at the 18th Judicial Circuit Court in Wheaton. We handle every category of criminal charge prosecuted by the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.
Practice areas include:
- DUI Defense — First offense, aggravated DUI, felony DUI, breathalyzer refusal, statutory summary suspension hearings, and driver's license reinstatement
- Drug Crimes — Possession, possession with intent to deliver, delivery of a controlled substance, trafficking, and cannabis charges
- Domestic Violence — Domestic battery, aggravated domestic battery, violation of orders of protection, and criminal stalking
- Violent Crimes — Assault, aggravated battery, armed robbery, home invasion, and attempted murder
- Property Crimes — Retail theft, burglary, residential burglary, criminal trespass, and criminal damage to property
- Sex Crimes — Criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual abuse, predatory criminal sexual assault, and sex offender registration matters
- Weapon Crimes — Unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated UUW, FOID card violations, and illegal firearm possession
- Traffic Violations — Reckless driving, driving on a suspended or revoked license, leaving the scene of an accident, and street racing
- White Collar Crimes — Fraud, theft by deception, identity theft, embezzlement, and money laundering
Your Aurora Defense Team
McMahon Law Offices brings a combination of perspectives to every DuPage County case that no other firm in the area can offer. One attorney spent years prosecuting cases at the Wheaton courthouse. The other decided them from the bench. For Aurora residents facing DuPage County charges, that depth of local courthouse knowledge makes a direct difference in case strategy and outcomes.
About Aurora
Aurora is the second-largest city in Illinois with a population of approximately 180,000 residents. Located about 35 miles west of downtown Chicago, Aurora spans DuPage, Kane, and Will Counties — making it one of the most jurisdictionally complex cities in the state for criminal defense purposes. The Fox River runs through the center of the city, historically dividing the east and west sides.
The DuPage County portion of Aurora covers the northeastern section of the city, including areas east of Eola Road and north toward the Naperville border. This portion is served by the Aurora Police Department and, on the state routes and interstates, by the Illinois State Police. Criminal charges arising in this section of Aurora are prosecuted by the DuPage County State's Attorney and heard at the DuPage County Circuit Court in Wheaton.
Aurora has a large and active downtown entertainment corridor, a significant commuter population using I-88 and Metra's BNSF line, and one of the larger police departments in the Chicago suburban area. All of these factors contribute to a substantial volume of criminal arrests across charge categories.
Understanding Aurora's County Jurisdiction
Because Aurora spans three counties, determining which courthouse will hear your case depends entirely on where within Aurora the arrest occurred. This is one of the most common points of confusion for Aurora residents facing criminal charges.
DuPage County Portion
The northeastern section of Aurora falls within DuPage County. Cases arising here are prosecuted by the DuPage County State's Attorney and heard at the 18th Judicial Circuit Court at 505 N. County Farm Rd in Wheaton. McMahon Law Offices handles these cases.
Kane County Portion
The largest portion of Aurora — including most of the downtown area, the Fox River corridor, and the west side — falls within Kane County. Cases arising here are heard at the Kane County Circuit Court, 16th Judicial Circuit, at 100 S. Third St in Geneva, IL. The Kane County State's Attorney prosecutes these cases.
Will County Portion
A smaller section of Aurora's southern boundary extends into Will County. Cases arising here are heard at the Will County Circuit Court at 14 W. Jefferson St in Joliet, IL.
Your arrest report and any bond paperwork should indicate the county. Your court date notice will name the courthouse. If you are still unsure, call us. We will review your paperwork and confirm jurisdiction before you do anything else.
Where Arrests Typically Occur in Aurora's DuPage Jurisdiction
The DuPage County portion of Aurora generates criminal arrests across several consistent corridors and zones.
I-88 and the Eola Road Corridor
I-88 runs along the northern edge of Aurora's DuPage County portion and is one of the most heavily patrolled interstate segments in DuPage County. The Illinois State Police conduct DUI enforcement, speed stops, and traffic checks on this corridor regularly. Eola Road, running north-south through Aurora's DuPage section, is also an active enforcement zone for Naperville and Aurora PD for DUI, suspended license, and drug stops.
Route 59 and New York Street
Route 59 runs along the eastern edge of Aurora's DuPage jurisdiction and connects to Naperville to the north. New York Street is a primary east-west commercial corridor with active enforcement. Both routes generate traffic stops that lead to DUI, drug, and weapon charges, particularly during late-night and weekend hours.
Fox Valley Mall Area
The Fox Valley Mall and surrounding commercial district in Aurora generates retail theft arrests, disorderly conduct charges, and occasional weapon-related incidents. Retail theft at large shopping centers is prosecuted seriously in DuPage County and can result in felony charges depending on the value of merchandise involved.
Residential Areas Near the Naperville Border
The residential neighborhoods in Aurora's DuPage County section, particularly those near the Naperville border, generate domestic battery and order of protection violation arrests. These charges carry mandatory no-contact orders that take immediate effect upon arrest and can displace the accused from their home before any court proceeding.
Where Aurora DuPage County Cases Are Heard
Criminal charges arising in Aurora's DuPage County jurisdiction are filed in the DuPage County Circuit Court — the 18th Judicial Circuit — in Wheaton. This is the courthouse where McMahon Law Offices has practiced exclusively for over two decades.
DuPage County Circuit Court
- Address: 505 N. County Farm Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187
- Phone: (630) 407-8700
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
- Circuit: 18th Judicial Circuit of Illinois
- Prosecuting Office: DuPage County State's Attorney's Office
- Distance from Aurora: Approximately 15 miles northeast via I-88
Bond court convenes the morning following arrest. If you or a family member was arrested overnight in Aurora's DuPage County jurisdiction, the first court appearance is likely the following morning in Wheaton. An attorney present at bond court can affect the amount of bond set and the conditions of release, including any no-contact or travel restrictions.
Law Enforcement in Aurora
The Aurora Police Department is one of the largest municipal police departments in the Chicago suburbs and has jurisdiction throughout the city regardless of county. The Illinois State Police patrol I-88 and other state routes through Aurora. Because Aurora spans three counties, cases may also involve interaction with DuPage County Sheriff's deputies or, less commonly, Kane or Will County Sheriff's offices depending on the circumstances of the arrest.
Aurora Police Department
- Address: 1200 E. Indian Trail, Aurora, IL 60505
- Non-Emergency: (630) 256-5000
- Jurisdiction: City of Aurora (all three county portions)
Illinois State Police — District 5
- Address: 1011 Larkin Ave, Elgin, IL 60123
- Phone: (847) 294-4400
- Patrols: I-88, Route 59, and state routes through DuPage County
DuPage County Sheriff
- Address: 501 N. County Farm Rd, Wheaton, IL 60187
- Phone: (630) 407-2000
- Jurisdiction: Unincorporated DuPage County and county-wide support
Frequently Asked Questions
I live in Aurora but my court date paperwork says Wheaton. Is that right?
Yes, if your arrest occurred in the DuPage County portion of Aurora. All DuPage County criminal cases are heard at 505 N. County Farm Rd in Wheaton, regardless of which municipality within the county the arrest took place. Aurora has no criminal courthouse of its own. Your bond paperwork or court date notice will confirm which county filed the charge.
How do I know which part of Aurora I was arrested in?
The easiest way is to look at the arresting agency's paperwork. If the charge lists DuPage County or references the 18th Judicial Circuit, your case is in Wheaton. If it lists Kane County or the 16th Judicial Circuit, your case is in Geneva. Your court date notice will name the specific courthouse. If you are unsure, call us with your case number or the paperwork you received and we will confirm it within minutes.
I was stopped on I-88 in Aurora by the State Police. Does my case go to DuPage County?
Almost certainly yes. I-88 runs through the DuPage County portion of Aurora, so an ISP stop on that corridor would typically be filed in DuPage County Circuit Court. ISP stops are documented under specific procedures that differ from Aurora PD stops, and the legal standards for reasonable suspicion and vehicle searches on an interstate may affect the defense strategy for a DUI or drug charge arising from that stop.
What happens to my driver's license after a DUI arrest in Aurora?
An Illinois DUI arrest triggers an automatic statutory summary suspension if you refused the breathalyzer or tested at or above the legal limit. The suspension takes effect 46 days after arrest and is entirely separate from any criminal penalties. You have the right to petition the court to rescind the suspension, but that petition must be filed promptly. Contact us immediately after a DUI arrest to preserve this option.
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