Recent Blog Posts
You May Wait a Long Time for Your “Speedy Trial”
It is a sad fact of our criminal justice system that the wheels of justice often turn very slowly. If you’ve been charged with a crime and you desperately want to clear your name and move forward with your life, every day, week, and month that goes by before your trial can seem like… Read More »
Texas Test Time: What to Expect from Field Sobriety Tests if You’re Pulled Over
If you’ve been pulled over for suspicion of drunk driving, you will likely be asked to take some tests. At some point, you may be asked to provide breath, blood, or urine samples. But first, you will be asked to participate in the standardized field sobriety tests. These tests are intended to test a… Read More »
What is Disorderly Conduct in Texas?
Spring Break season is here, and from South Padre Island to Daytona Beach, you can be sure that arrests for disorderly conduct will be part of the week for some folks. In Texas, “disorderly conduct” is a common criminal charge that covers a relatively broad range of behavior. It can take the form of… Read More »
What is Hearsay? Can It Be Used By Prosecutors?
You may have heard the term “hearsay” before. In criminal proceedings, “hearsay” refers to testimony in which the witness is relaying information they received from a third party, and the statement allegedly made by that third-party is being offered as evidence to support either the prosecution or defense. For example, if a police officer… Read More »
Will Texas Decriminalize Pot Possession in 2015?
Make no mistake: marijuana is still illegal in Texas, and you will face harsh penalties if convicted of possession or distribution. But if a bill recently introduced in the Texas legislature becomes law next year, Texas may join 19 other states, the District of Columbia, and municipalities across the country in decriminalizing the possession… Read More »
Plea Bargains are Often a Bad Deal
It may be tempting after an arrest to enter a guilty plea in hopes of a lighter sentence and a quick resolution to your ordeal. You want to move on with your life, maybe avoid paying some legal fees, and think that entering a plea is the answer to your current legal problems.
Don’t Make Things Worse: Four Things NOT to Do When Stopped or Arrested
Two situations guaranteed to make you unhappy, uncomfortable, and uneasy (to say the least) are being pulled over by the police or placed under arrest. At those times, with the outcome of those interactions still very much uncertain, the choices you make can play a big role in determining whether the bad situation you… Read More »
Arrest Warrants, Bench Warrants, and Traffic Warrants Explained
Often when you are charged with a crime, it follows your arrest by the police, such as when you are pulled over and charged with DUI or if you are apprehended during or immediately after a crime such as a robbery or assault. Sometimes, though, individuals are arrested and charged with crimes well after… Read More »
What is “Due Process” and Why Is It Important to You?
One of the most fundamental and important rights that all of us have, “due process” has been in the news a lot recently. NFL players facing suspension or discipline for domestic violence or child abuse assert that there should be “due process” before they lose their jobs or incomes. Government officials, law enforcement, and… Read More »
Adrian Peterson Indictment: Legal Parental Discipline or Criminal Act?
Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson was recently indicted by a Montgomery County, Texas grand jury on charges of Injury to a Child arising out of his use of a switch to spank or, in Peterson’s words, to “whoop” his four-year-old son. The indictment came after law enforcement was advised by a doctor… Read More »
