When you take your criminal case to trial, you have a choice between a jury trial or a bench trial. In a bench trial, the judge hears all the evidence and renders a determination as to your guilt. In a jury trial, a jury of your peers will decide your fate. If you...
As your criminal case unfolds, the prosecution is going to confidently present its evidence as if its failproof. But the reality is that the police make mistakes all the time that can blow a hole in the prosecution’s case. It’s up to you to find those errors and...
When you’ve been charged with a serious criminal offense, the future can look bleak, especially in light of the potential penalties that you could face. And as you navigate your case, you’ll have to decide whether you want to fight the charges in court or try to...
You have rights that must be protected when you come under investigation for criminal wrongdoing and are charged with a criminal offense. Although law enforcement and prosecutors are supposed to protect those rights, all too often they trample them. And if you don’t...
Readers of this blog know that we touch on many criminal law topics, and a frequent question concerns the rights of drivers during traffic stops. One such question is whether Florida police can legally take a driver’s keys during a traffic stop to prevent the driver...
The physical evidence the prosecution has mounted against you can be intimidating. But just because they have evidence doesn’t mean it’s admissible. For the prosecution to use physical evidence against you at trial, they must demonstrate that the evidence is what they...
The police and prosecutors probably need some physical evidence to charge you with criminal wrongdoing and obtain a conviction. In most instances, this evidence isn’t going to be voluntarily handed over to them, which means law enforcement must rely on a properly...
When you’re facing criminal charges, you have to do everything possible to protect yourself. After all, the prosecution is going to be unrelenting in its pursuit of conviction, which can leave you feeling backed into a corner. Fortunately, there are criminal defense...
A charge for a federal crime is a serious matter. It is not only overwhelming because of the penalties attached, but it can also be confusing because you do not fully understand what you are being charged with. For example, a conspiracy allegation may leave you...
Property crimes can happen through violence, threats, coercion or by trickery. For cases in which a person is accused of theft involving a victim 65 or older, the penalties are more severe than they are if the crime involved a younger individual. Being aware of the...
