Mitigation • Criminal Defense • Appeals

Holly N. Blaine

Holly N. Blaine

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Education

  • B.A., University of Denver, 2000

  • J.D., Pennsylvania State University, 2003

Bar Admissions

  • Colorado

  • California

  • Illinois 

  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Practice Areas

  • Federal Criminal Defense

  • Expungement

  • Sealing

  • Executive Clemency

  • Certificates of Innocence


Holly concentrates her practice in federal criminal defense and clearing criminal records. Holly has trial experience in both state and federal court and represents clients in all aspects of criminal and civil trials, and she has represented clients throughout Cook County and Illinois. 

As a member of the Criminal Justice Act panel for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Holly represents indigent defendants facing federal criminal charges. Holly is active in the Chicago community as a long-time volunteer attorney with Cabrini Green Legal Aid (CGLA) at the CGLA help desk at the Daley Center, where she has assisted hundreds of clients seeking to expunge or seal their criminal records. 

In addition to her service with the help desk, Holly volunteers her time to CGLA's criminal-defense and records-screening teams, where she interviews potential clients to assess their need for CGLA’s assistance in criminal matters and petitions for executive clemency.