Samantha Steele DUI Case: Pretrial Motion Hearing Set for January 12, 2026

Frank Calabrese
Nov 9
2 min read

Updated: Dec 1

Samantha Steele's next court date in her DUI arrest is Monday, January 12, 2026

Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Samantha Steele is scheduled for a pretrial motion hearing in her criminal DUI case on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 410 at the Richard J. Daley Center in Chicago. According to the court docket, the case is set for a Motion to Suppress filed by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Filings indicate that the State may ask the judge to suppress evidence from Steele that she had a medical condition that caused the crash. While Steele has publicly claimed she crashed her car due to a medical condition, news coverage and FOIA-released video document an opened bottle of wine in the vehicle at the time of the arrest, which was confiscated by Chicago Police officers.

Cook County Court docket sheet for 24TR10067523

The case stems from Steele’s November 10, 2024 arrest following a bizarre and highly publicized incident on the city’s North Side that has since sparked widespread outrage, calls for her resignation, and even international media attention. Steele was taken into custody after crashing her vehicle into two parked cars on Ashland Avenue in the Andersonville neighborhood. According to the police report and multiple witness accounts, she initially attempted to flee the scene but was unable to do so due to her car’s extensive damage.

When approached by Chicago police officers, Steele reportedly refused to exit her vehicle, declined to present a driver’s license, and twice stated, “I’m an elected official,” as if to dissuade officers from arresting her. Officers noted the strong odor of alcohol, bloodshot eyes, and slurred speech. A half-empty bottle of red wine was discovered in the vehicle’s front seat area. During her arrest, Samantha Steele taunted a Chicago police officer by repeatedly asking, “Is your penis that small?” Bodycam footage showed Steele rolling her eyes, appearing combative, and refusing sobriety tests while being transported from the scene. At one point, she called fellow Commissioner Scott Britton, who arrived to act as her informal legal representative at the crash site. The Chicago Sun-Times has since called for her resignation.

Case Number: 24TR10067523

Location: Richard J. Daley Center

50 West Washington St

Chicago, Illinois 60602

Courtroom 410

Date: Monday, January 12, 2026

Time: 9:00 AM

What: Pre-Trial Motion Hearing

Video: Samantha Steele Refused to Comply with Chicago Police Because She Was an "Elected Official"