Scott was born in Chicago but grew up in the northern suburbs. He graduated from Maine East High School in Park Ridge, Illinois in 1984. He entered Northern Illinois University in DeKalb that fall and graduated in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in Sociology/Criminal Justice and a minor in Spanish. While attending NIU he joined Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and was an office holder all three years of his membership, including president of his chapter. It was during this time that he met the woman he would marry. Scott and Helene (nee Cohan) live in Lake County and have twin teenage daughters.
Scott received his law degree from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1992. After taking and passing the bar exam on the first attempt in July 1992, Scott began working almost immediately for the Lake County Public Defender's Office in Waukegan. Initially assigned to handle misdemeanor and traffic cases, it was during this period of his career that he was chosen to co-counsel a death penalty trial. Within two years of his hire date Scott was assigned his own felony trial call. In 1997, Scott's request to be reassigned to the Public Defender's Juvenile Division was granted and he would see the Juvenile Court Complex move from Waukegan to its present location in Vernon Hills. He represented juvenile delinquents and fought against having the more serious young offenders prosecuted as adults. Scott also helped parents involved with DCFS keep or regain custody of their children from the State. Scott returned to Waukegan in April 1999 and again would handle serious felony cases. In January 2004 Scott was promoted to Supervisor of the Juvenile Division, the first ever in the history of the Lake County Public Defender's Office. Scott left the office in May 2009.
Scott's commitment to youth development outside of court is demonstrated in his involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lake County, where he was chosen as Top Big Brother for the 2007-08 school year and featured in the Daily Herald (click here to read article). He also helped coach his daughters' softball team, and travel with his girls when they compete with their synchronized ice skating team.
Over the years, Scott has had numerous articles published in "The Docket," the journal of the Lake County Bar Association:
♦ "A Guide to Illinois Truth-in-Sentencing Statute." The Docket December 2007: 19.
♦ "Expunction of Juvenile Law Enforcement and Court Records." The Docket August 2007: 17.
♦ "Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of In re Gault." The Docket July 2007: 17.
♦ "Goodbye, Little Rascals." The Docket December 2005: 11.
♦ "Words & Sentences." The Docket November 2001: 7.
♦ "Juvenile Transfer Hearings." The Docket January 1998: 23.
and has been a featured presenter at seminars and workshops:
♦ Juvenile Defender Resource Institute Workshop, June 19, 2009.
♦ Lake County Bar Association Criminal/Juvenile Law Committee Brown Bag Luncheon,
December 4, 2007.
♦ Lake County Bar Association Criminal/Juvenile Law Committee Seminar, August 25, 2006.
♦ Juvenile Justice Reform Act Training for the 19th Judicial Circuit, February 24, 1999.
♦ Office of the State Appellate Defender Violent Crimes Defense Seminar, June 26, 1998.
♦ Lake County Bar Association Criminal Law Committee Seminar, November 7-10, 1997.
♦ Fire Investigators Strike Force Seminar, October 16, 1996.
Come see why Scott A. Wineberg is the right attorney for you!
You can also learn more at http://www.avvo.com/attorneys/60085-il-scott-wineberg-1208033.html