Criminal Defense

criminal justice reform

Criminal Justice Reform – Do Advocates for Change Even Care About Results?

America is precariously perched at a tipping point in history in which strong-arm efforts to reform our criminal justice system seem to be rooted in change for its own sake — and damn the lamentable consequences. In our country’s early colonies, the concept of right and wrong was rooted in “common law,” based upon the history of previous decisions made

Read More »
specialized lawyers

Why Do I Need a Criminal Defense Lawyer?

If you have been arrested you may be facing a criminal investigation, criminal charges, sentencing, and appeals. This means that either a police officer, a federal agent, or a judge believe probable cause exists that you have committed a crime. At this point, you should get in touch with a criminal defense lawyer to help you with their own investigation

Read More »
white-collar crime

White-Collar Crime: What It Is and How It Affects Society

If you’ve ever wondered what white-collar crime is and how it impacts society, you’re in the right place. White-collar crime has long been viewed as a “lesser” crime and glamorized in Hollywood; in reality, it can be devastating for society and victims. Read on to learn about white-collar crime, and how it is treated differently than “street” crimes. What Are

Read More »
criminal procedure evidence rules

Federal Rules of Evidence, Criminal Procedure and Appellate Procedure Amended

There have been several recent amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (FRAP), Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE), and Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure that went into effect on December 1, 2019. These amendments significantly impact federal civil and criminal practice. Notably, the changes discard the proof of service requirements for certain documents filed using case management/electronic case filing

Read More »
davis v. commonwealth

PA Supreme Court Rules to Protect Passwords in Criminal Cases

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that the Fifth Amendment’s protection against self-incrimination extends to prohibiting law enforcement from forcing a defendant to provide his or her passwords for electronic devices. The PA Supreme Court ruled 4-3 to reverse a state superior court ruling in the case of Commonwealth v. Davis, a decision that may have immediate effect on technology-related criminal

Read More »
parol evidence rule

Exceptions to the Parol Evidence Rule an Important Consideration for Litigation Strategy

Most remember “merger” and “integration” clauses from their contracts courses in law school. Where a contract purports to state it is the entire agreement between the parties as to the subject matter of the contract, no parol evidence can be offered to contradict, modify, or amend the terms of that contract. The fundamental purpose of a merger clause “is to

Read More »
H.B. 228

H.B. 228 & Self-Defense: Easier to Shoot or Proper to Defend?

Just days before the new year, the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate voted to override Governor John Kasich’s veto and effectively passed Ohio’s newest self-defense legislation. Ohio is merely the latest (and almost the last) state to follow the national trend in passing legislation of this kind. H.B. 228, initially billed as a “stand your ground” law,

Read More »
Criminal Justice Reform

Criminal Justice Reform – The First Step Act

Engage in any political discussion these days, and the same conclusion seems inevitable: we are living in a country divided. Our congressional leaders in both the house and senate, and their disdain for each other, is on full display each and every day. Attempting to distinguish real news from fake news is a particularly daunting task. Well, here’s some real

Read More »
FBI

Warning: The FBI Is Getting Aggressive In Creating Crimes

As a criminal defense attorney in federal and Texas state courts, I have dealt with numerous cases of allegations known as “crimes against children,” primarily have to do with the online conduct of citizens that run afoul of the law. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other federal law enforcement agencies getting aggressive in these cases. The FBI is

Read More »
Marsy’s Law

Marsy’s Law: Are Crimes Victims Really More Protected Now?

On Nov. 7, 2017, Ohio voters overwhelmingly passed Issue 1, or Marsy’s Law under the guise of a “victim’s bill of rights.” Ohio is the most recent state to adopt such legislation, and surely will not be the last. On its face, it is hard to imagine opposition to helping victims of crimes, and the pre-election question posed was usually

Read More »
criminal justice reform

Criminal Justice Reform – Do Advocates for Change Even Care About Results?

America is precariously perched at a tipping point in history in which strong-arm efforts to reform our criminal justice system seem to be rooted in change for its own sake — and damn the lamentable consequences. In our country’s early colonies, the concept of right and wrong was rooted in “common law,” based upon the history of previous decisions made

Read More »
specialized lawyers

Why Do I Need a Criminal Defense Lawyer?

If you have been arrested you may be facing a criminal investigation, criminal charges, sentencing, and appeals. This means that either a police officer, a federal agent, or a judge believe probable cause exists that you have committed a crime. At this point, you should get in touch with a criminal defense lawyer to help you with their own investigation

Read More »
white-collar crime

White-Collar Crime: What It Is and How It Affects Society

If you’ve ever wondered what white-collar crime is and how it impacts society, you’re in the right place. White-collar crime has long been viewed as a “lesser” crime and glamorized in Hollywood; in reality, it can be devastating for society and victims. Read on to learn about white-collar crime, and how it is treated differently than “street” crimes. What Are

Read More »
criminal procedure evidence rules

Federal Rules of Evidence, Criminal Procedure and Appellate Procedure Amended

There have been several recent amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure (FRAP), Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE), and Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure that went into effect on December 1, 2019. These amendments significantly impact federal civil and criminal practice. Notably, the changes discard the proof of service requirements for certain documents filed using case management/electronic case filing

Read More »
davis v. commonwealth

PA Supreme Court Rules to Protect Passwords in Criminal Cases

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that the Fifth Amendment’s protection against self-incrimination extends to prohibiting law enforcement from forcing a defendant to provide his or her passwords for electronic devices. The PA Supreme Court ruled 4-3 to reverse a state superior court ruling in the case of Commonwealth v. Davis, a decision that may have immediate effect on technology-related criminal

Read More »
parol evidence rule

Exceptions to the Parol Evidence Rule an Important Consideration for Litigation Strategy

Most remember “merger” and “integration” clauses from their contracts courses in law school. Where a contract purports to state it is the entire agreement between the parties as to the subject matter of the contract, no parol evidence can be offered to contradict, modify, or amend the terms of that contract. The fundamental purpose of a merger clause “is to

Read More »
H.B. 228

H.B. 228 & Self-Defense: Easier to Shoot or Proper to Defend?

Just days before the new year, the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate voted to override Governor John Kasich’s veto and effectively passed Ohio’s newest self-defense legislation. Ohio is merely the latest (and almost the last) state to follow the national trend in passing legislation of this kind. H.B. 228, initially billed as a “stand your ground” law,

Read More »
Criminal Justice Reform

Criminal Justice Reform – The First Step Act

Engage in any political discussion these days, and the same conclusion seems inevitable: we are living in a country divided. Our congressional leaders in both the house and senate, and their disdain for each other, is on full display each and every day. Attempting to distinguish real news from fake news is a particularly daunting task. Well, here’s some real

Read More »
FBI

Warning: The FBI Is Getting Aggressive In Creating Crimes

As a criminal defense attorney in federal and Texas state courts, I have dealt with numerous cases of allegations known as “crimes against children,” primarily have to do with the online conduct of citizens that run afoul of the law. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other federal law enforcement agencies getting aggressive in these cases. The FBI is

Read More »
Marsy’s Law

Marsy’s Law: Are Crimes Victims Really More Protected Now?

On Nov. 7, 2017, Ohio voters overwhelmingly passed Issue 1, or Marsy’s Law under the guise of a “victim’s bill of rights.” Ohio is the most recent state to adopt such legislation, and surely will not be the last. On its face, it is hard to imagine opposition to helping victims of crimes, and the pre-election question posed was usually

Read More »

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