Federal and state authorities have waged a war on illegal narcotics and other substances for several decades. While it is hard to say which side is winning, the consequences for federal drug convictions are harsher than ever before. Prison sentences for convictions at...
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...
Being convicted of a crime and realizing that the conviction was due to an error in the manner the law was applied is a difficult situation. The same is true if you realize that an error was made in the sentencing phase of the criminal matter. For people who went...
Reasonable suspicion is a legal standard of proof used in criminal cases. It is the justification that a police officer needs to make an investigative search, seizure, or stop. For instance, a police officer will need more than just a hunch or guess to stop you. ...
Your right to a fair trial by jury depends on having impartial jurors consider your case. A big part of the pretrial process for those facing criminal charges will involve selecting a jury. Your lawyer and the prosecutor can ask prospective jury members questions...
You were charged with a serious criminal offense and the matter went before a jury trial. After both the prosecution and defense presented their arguments, the jury started their deliberations. It is up to the jury to decide upon the factual aspects of the case, while...
Most people wrongly equate an appeal to a fresh trial, given the possibility of a different verdict. However, appealing a verdict is nothing like a retrial. First, an appeal comes after a trial court or jury has already made its decision. Therefore, the legal...
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...
The official meaning of exculpatory evidence is “to exonerate someone of a crime or clear them of wrongdoing or blame.” If you plan to appeal a conviction, exculpatory evidence may be beneficial and help with your defense. It is often referred to as “Brady material”...
If you go to court to ask for an expungement and have it granted, you’ll be able to seal off your record from prying eyes. However, that doesn’t mean that your history totally disappears. While you will be able to block your history from the public, other entities...