Fourth Amendment Rights and Traffic Stops
Interacting with law enforcement can be intimidating. While it is important to remain respectful and as compliant as is reasonable, it is also important in interactions with law enforcement to know your rights. You see, the power of law enforcement officials is not without limits. Some of those limits come in the form of...
What to Negotiate While Plea Bargaining
Did you know that, according to the Texas District & County Attorneys Association, approximately 98% of criminal cases end in plea bargains? Plea bargains have come to play a vital role in the criminal justice system as the lack of resources, like prosecuting and defense attorneys, along with judges, juries, and other court resources,...
The Key Points of an Insanity Defense
The insanity defense gets a lot of attention for the role it has played in past high profile legal cases as well as for how often it gets featured in movies and television legal dramas. The truth of the matter is, however, that the insanity defense is not often raised and even less often...
Impeaching Witness Credibility
The credibility of a witness can have a big impact on the weight the witness testimony is given. For witnesses with solid credibility, testimony will likely be compelling and given significant weight. For those witnesses with questionable credibility, testimony is likely to be met with skepticism at the very least. Defenses attorneys know this...
Asserting an Alibi Defense Strategy
In the U.S. criminal justice system, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This is the highest threshold in the U.S. justice system. Unfortunately, however, this does not mean that defendants are served, and certainly not best served, by waiting to see if the prosecution can build a strong enough...
Why You Need a Local Criminal Defense Attorney
Have you been charged with a crime? Are you under suspicion for possible criminal activity? It is never too early in the process to consult with a local criminal defense attorney. The sooner you are in contact with trusted legal counsel, the more options you may have to protect yourself and your legal...
Isn’t Pleading Innocence Enough?
In the U.S. criminal justice system, a defendant is supposed to be considered innocent until proven guilty. Furthermore, such guilt must be proven “beyond a reasonable doubt,” which is the highest legal standard there is. With all of this being said, you may think that simply pleading innocence is enough, right? Well, while this...
Why Constitutional Violations Are Relevant to Your Criminal Case
Constitutional rights do not and should not waiver in the face of looming criminal charges. If you have been charged with a crime, you may feel isolated, alone, and up against a criminal justice system out to get you. Despite all of this, know that your constitutional rights remain and are designed to...
What Will Be Considered During Your Bail Hearing?
After an arrest, there will be many important things that follow that should be handled with great care as they can have significant impacts on your rights. One of those important things will be the bail hearing. At the bail hearing, a judge will decide whether you should be released on bail and,...
What Rights Does a Felon Lose in Texas?
Felonies are the most serious level of criminal offenses here in Texas. Misdemeanors, on the other hand, are considered to be lesser offenses and punishment tends to reflect his in terms of severity. Those facing felony convictions stand to do time in state prison or jail as well as incurring hefty fines. A...