Ed Deters has been practicing law for over twenty years.  Ed graduated from St. Anthony High School in Effingham and attended Quincy University graduating with a Bachelors Degree in History in 1988.  After working for two years at Sherwin Williams distribution center, Ed returned to law school and graduated with honors from John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1993.

After graduation, Ed went to work in the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office as an Assistant State’s Attorney.  While there, Ed started in the traffic division before moving on to the felony division handling all types of serious cases, including many murder cases.  Gaining valuable experience for seven years, Ed decided to run for State’s Attorney in Effingham County in the 2000 election.

At the age of thirty-four, Ed was first elected State’s Attorney in 2000, then reelected in 2004 and 2008, becoming Effingham County’s first three term elected prosecutor in over fifty years.  As State’s Attorney, Ed worked to earn the respect of the legal community as a prosecutor who was always willing to take even tough cases to trial.  Ed tried many cases, and served as the County’s attorney at County Board hearings and in civil matters in court as well.  Twelve years as State’s Attorney brought Ed a wide array of legal experience he now plans to utilize for his clients.

Choosing not to run for a fourth term, Ed joined forces with friends and local attorneys David McDevitt, Kirsten Osteen and Chad Chojnicki to form McDevitt, Osteen, Chojnicki & Deters, LLC.  For ten years since his days as a prosecutor, Ed has provided experienced, assertive defense on criminal matters of all sorts and sizes, from simple traffic through first degree murder charges.  Ed’s practice has taken him to most of the counties in this part of Central Illinois, including Jasper, Cumberland, Shelby, Clay, Christian, Coles, Crawford, Marion, Fayette, Richland and of course, Effingham.  If your case is within a two hour drive of Effingham, Ed is willing to discuss with you whether he can be of assistance in your traffic or criminal matter.

Ed and his wife, Denise, reside in Effingham, and are blessed with four children!

“I have very much enjoyed my ten years of criminal defense practice.  With nearly thirty years of experience in criminal courtrooms, I understand what makes an offer a good offer from the State’s Attorney, and when circumstances require us to ask a jury to vindicate a client through a verdict.  I am confident my experience on both sides of traffic and criminal courtrooms of Central Illinois gives my clients the edge in reaching the best outcome possible in their particular case.”