Kulmeet "Bob" Galhotra is a nationally recognized criminal defense trial attorney with more than three decades of experience defending individuals accused of crimes in Illinois. Throughout his career, he has represented thousands of clients and tried hundreds of jury and bench trials, earning a reputation as a skilled courtroom advocate, accomplished trial strategist, and respected legal educator.
Mr. Galhotra is the founder of Galhotra Law, where he represents clients facing misdemeanor and felony charges in state and federal courts, with a particular emphasis on serious felony litigation, constitutional issues, and complex criminal defense.
Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Galhotra served for nearly 30 years as an Assistant Public Defender in Cook County, Illinois. For 17 years, he was assigned to the Homicide Task Force, defending clients charged with first-degree murder and other serious felony offenses. His work included the litigation of complex homicide cases involving forensic evidence, mental health defenses, constitutional issues, expert testimony, and extensive motion practice. Over the course of his public service, he earned the respect of judges, prosecutors, and fellow defense attorneys for his meticulous preparation, persuasive advocacy, and unwavering commitment to protecting the constitutional rights of every client.
In addition to his trial practice, Mr. Galhotra has devoted a substantial portion of his career to teaching and mentoring trial lawyers. He has served on the faculty of the University of Chicago Law School's Intensive Trial Practice Workshop, one of the nation's premier programs for training litigators. He is also a faculty member for the Jamie Kunz Trial Advocacy Program, where he teaches courtroom advocacy and trial techniques to public defenders from across Illinois.
Mr. Galhotra serves as an Adjunct Professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he teaches Criminal Procedure and Trial Advocacy. He has also taught international LL.M. students, helping prepare lawyers from around the world to understand the principles of American jurisprudence and advocacy.
A recognized leader in the legal profession, Mr. Galhotra serves as President-Elect of the Illinois Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers. In that capacity, he has organized and presented numerous continuing legal education programs for criminal defense attorneys and has helped advance excellence in trial advocacy throughout Illinois.
Mr. Galhotra is also an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association, serving on the Cannabis Law Section Council and the Mental Health Law Section Council. He regularly writes and lectures on criminal law, constitutional law, trial advocacy, mental health issues in criminal litigation, forensic evidence, and emerging developments in Illinois criminal practice.
Committed to strengthening the legal profession beyond his own practice, Mr. Galhotra founded the Jack Carey Memorial Scholarship, which annually recognizes and supports outstanding law clerks from the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender who demonstrate exceptional promise as future trial lawyers.
Whether in the courtroom, the classroom, or before professional organizations, Mr. Galhotra has dedicated his career to the pursuit of justice, the protection of constitutional rights, and the education of future generations of trial attorneys. His breadth of courtroom experience, commitment to excellence, and service to the profession have earned him recognition as one of Illinois' leading criminal defense lawyers.
