When there’s the belief that criminal activity is being committed, reasonable suspicion is used by the police to stop and investigate people. For example, an officer who sees someone tucking a bottle of alcohol under their jacket in a store may have reasonable...
Many criminal convictions balance solely on the word of one person. When this happens, it’s paramount that this person is truthful so that justice is rightly delivered. Unfortunately, many people lie during trials and, as a result, innocent people receive sentences...
It can be difficult to decide how to respond to criminal charges on your own. You must have some confidence in your defense team if you are a defendant. However, there can be issues when handling a criminal case that’s going through the criminal justice system. How...
If you are appealing a criminal case, whether it is a misdemeanor or a felony, you will need to take great care with what you say, write, text and post online until the appeals process has been fully resolved. Just as you were warned when you were arrested, that...
When an innocent person is convicted of a crime they did not commit, it raises questions about how the justice system works. In some cases, perjury - or lying under oath in court - may be to blame for a wrongful conviction. Perjury can have serious consequences in...
When you face criminal charges, your defense attorney protects you against the allegations that could irrevocably alter the course of your life. They help you decide on the best strategy and present an effective case in criminal court. You have to trust in their...
Deciding how you’re going to handle criminal charges is a complex undertaking. If you’re a defendant, you have to have some measure of trust in your defense team. Many of these cases work through the criminal justice system without any issues, but there are some cases...
Most people go to criminal appeals courts to appeal a conviction for a crime. An appeal can’t be made just because someone didn’t like the verdict. They must be able to show that the trial court made one or more serious errors that negatively affected the outcome of...
When you’re charged with a serious crime that carries some stiff penalties, it’s only natural to be anxious about the outcome of your trial. You know you want the best possible defense team on your side. Should that defense team include an appellate attorney? It may...
The phrase “fair trial” is embedded in our judicial system. It’s a basic and respected cornerstone of it. But what particulars and protections does it actually involve? Can you appeal a conviction if your right to a fair trial was compromised in some way? Early in...