The United States Constitution affords individuals specific rights. One of these rights protects people from unreasonable search and seizure by law enforcement officers. The Fourth Amendment sets specific limits that police officers must follow when conducting...
A criminal conviction can change your life in many ways. Depending on the crime you have been accused of, you may face a jail term or a hefty fine. In addition, a conviction can also strip you of certain rights, like the right to vote or own a firearm. However, a...
While the phrase “double jeopardy” does not expressly appear in the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, it’s a well-known -- and critically important -- part of the criminal legal system in the United States. Basically, double jeopardy means that you cannot face...
Getting convicted of a criminal offense can ruin your personal, social and professional life. A criminal conviction can also mean loss of privileges like firearm ownership, driving and voting rights. For more serious felonies, a conviction can mean a long jail term...
Being convicted of a criminal offense can cause devastating consequences to your personal, family and professional life. Following your conviction, you may lose important privileges like driving, voter rights and much more. Worse still, you may lose your freedom by...
If you are convicted of a crime, chances are your legal team will consider disputing the conviction. You can dispute a conviction in a couple of ways, which include a direct appeal as well as a writ of habeas corpus. The difference between a direct appeal and habeas...
You made a mistake, but you do not want to be defined by the mistake. Even if you try to put your conviction and past behind you, the record of it still exists. Fortunately, you can nullify a legal conviction through a pardon and an expungement. A federal pardon is...
When you are found guilty of a crime, the consequences of your conviction and the resulting criminal record can haunt you for a lifetime. A conviction can remain a black mark on your name anytime a background check is run on you. It may also hurt your chances of...
If you appeal the verdict in a criminal federal case, your next stop is a federal court of appeals, which will be one of the U.S. Courts of Appeals. Which one hears your case will depend on the location of the original trial. These are also known as circuit courts...