Deadly crash results in 6-month law license suspension for Chicago lawyer

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A Chicago lawyer will lose his Wisconsin law license for six months as reciprocal discipline for a drunken-driving crash that killed his friend.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Sept. 30 announced its ruling in the Office of Lawyer Regulation’s case against Guy Norman Maras.

The OLR requested reciprocal discipline for Maras, who lost his Illinois law license after he was convicted of homicide by use of a vehicle.

The deadly crash happened in Oconto County in July 2018. A complaint said Maras was driving about 100 miles an hour while drunk on the way to a cabin with his friend. He lost control of the car, and his friend died in the crash.

Maras pleaded guilty to felony homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and was sentenced to three years of incarceration and 10 years of supervision, both stayed. As a result of the conviction, the Illinois Supreme Court suspended his license for three years, although the suspension was stayed after six months by a three-year period of probation.

The petition to the Supreme Court of Illinois said Mara suffers from an alcohol-use disorder, but he’s been sober since he was arrested after the crash.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court approved a stipulation filed by Maras and the OLR, and imposed the six-month suspension, effective on Nov. 11. The justices also ordered Maras to comply with the terms and conditions of the Illinois suspension, which include not using alcohol or drugs, undergoing random substance testing, participating in a 12-step program and meeting with a probation officer.

Maras was admitted to practice law in Wisconsin in 2009. He hasn’t been the subject of previous discipline in Wisconsin.

Maras referred the Wisconsin Law Journal to his lawyer, Stacie Rosenzweig of Halling & Cayo, for comment. Rosenzweig said Maras sincerely regrets the action that led to his suspension and especially its effect on his friend’s family. Follow @“WLJreporter”