People v. Harris

Following a bench trial, defendant James Harris was convicted of false personation of an attorney for rendering a trademark opinion while he knowingly lacked the authority to practice law. He was sentenced to one year of probation and 100 hours of community service. On appeal, Harris’s main argument is that the State failed to present sufficient evidence to support his conviction. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm.

BACKGROUND

On November 10, 2003, Robert J. Dale, owner of an advertising firm in Chicago, wrote a letter to James Harris and retained Harris’s services as a patent attorney…