About Steve W.
Steve W. Hanna built his foundation in the liberal arts before turning to law. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from St. Ambrose University in 1982 and later studied law at Saint Louis University School of Law, where he completed his legal training and earned a Juris Doctor. Those years set the tone for a practice shaped by courtroom work and case-by-case advocacy.
After law school, Hanna entered private practice and established himself across two Midwestern jurisdictions. He is licensed to practice in both Iowa and Illinois and has handled matters in courts throughout those states. Over time his docket gravitated toward criminal matters, and he regularly appears in hearings and trials that center on impaired driving and serious drug-related offenses.
Hanna’s work is grounded in trial preparation. He spends time reviewing police reports, lab results, and procedural records. He challenges evidence when it is warranted and presses for clarity when records are incomplete. Colleagues describe him as someone who plans his courtroom moves deliberately. That planning shows in plea negotiations as well as in contested proceedings.
Clients who come to Hanna often face sharp consequences. DUI cases demand attention to scientific testing and constitutional protections. Drug-trafficking matters involve layered factual inquiries and often complex statutory interpretations. Hanna handles both kinds of files. He has experience questioning chemical analyses, chain-of-custody records, and the legal basis for stops and searches. He also prepares witnesses, cross-examines standard witnesses, and argues suppression motions when there are grounds to do so.
Outside of the courtroom, Hanna has maintained memberships in professional associations related to criminal practice. Those memberships keep him connected to developments in case law and procedure across the two states where he practices. He has adapted to changes in forensic science and statutory updates by keeping current on legal literature and court decisions.
Hanna’s practice is practical and task-oriented. He reviews each case on its facts, maps out a defense strategy, and pursues the route that best serves a client’s immediate and long-term interests. He represents clients in arraignments, pretrial proceedings, and trials, as well as in post-conviction matters where appropriate. His current practice focuses on DUI and drug-trafficking defense.
