Criminal Law

Hating Jews. under the guise of hating the colonialist apartheid genocidal oppressor State of Israel, has become the new fashion accessory of the righteous left. The hard right was caught off guard, […]

Will the world end in a nuclear Holocaust? Jake Halpern seems to not only consider this a probability, but considers this something to discuss with his kids. In one conversation, Lucian told me: […]

The implicit argument as Jennifer and James Crumbley were charged and ultimately convicted of murders committed not by them, but their son, was that the circumstances, the evidence, was so unique […]

AP reports: A former Mafia hitman already serving life in prison was sentenced to 25 years Friday in the 2018 fatal prison bludgeoning of notorious Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger. […]

The most significant criminal law story this week was the mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, Georgia. Tragically, two teachers and two students were killed, and at least nine […]

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is arguably the crown jewel in America’s national park system. It’s beautiful beyond the human capacity to articulate in words. It’s also colder than any […]

David French makes an emotional appeal to hold TikTok liable for the tragic asphyxiation death of a 10-year-old girl, Nylah Anderson, who took the “so-called blackout challenge.” It is, without a […]

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released on September 3, 2024. These summaries will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a […]

More than a few captive organizations have forsaken integrity in their quest for ideological purity. Think ACLU and ABA. Now, it’s the AAUP, the American Association of University Professors. which […]

Criminal Charges Stemming from School Shootings in Texas School shootings are among the most heartbreaking tragedies a community can face, bringing the nation’s attention to the stark contrast […]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the national public health agency of the United States. It is a federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services, and is […]

Effective December 1, 2023, Session Law 2023-151 amended G.S. 14-56 (Breaking or entering into or breaking out of railroad cars, motor vehicles, trailers, aircrafts, boats, or other watercraft) to […]

In the Southern District of New York, Judge Ronnie Abrams did exactly what a judge is supposed to do on a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss. She accepted the allegations in the complaint as true. On […]

Whether in Westchester, Manhattan, Brooklyn, or any borough of New York City or county in the state, District Attorneys prioritize Domestic Violence related arrests, and rightfully so. Similarly, […]

Debra Saunders, who was a columnist for the SF Chronicle during Kamala Harris’s DA and AG tenures, has this article with observations on her record and last week’s CNN interview. She is […]

Shea wrote about changes to the law around the practice of entering low-level felony pleas in district court last fall, here. More and more districts have begun adopting the practice of accepting […]

Typically, when someone feels harassed, they are advised by law enforcement to get a harassment restraining order, which purportedly offers the protection sought from the harassing behavior. But, in […]

Whenever criminal defense lawyers talk about the constitutional rights of defendants, someone will respond by telling us we would feel very differently if it was our child who was harmed. And they […]

Over the past few weeks, we’ve come to learn a few things about our friends. A shocking number of dear friends, people we like and respect, people with good jobs and the degrees given by good […]

Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho wanted to meet Barack Obama, but as a foreign national, could not buy his way to a meeting through campaign contributions. So he used Rapper Pras Michel of the […]

Cell phones are everywhere today, and they’re playing an increasingly significant role in criminal investigations. It’s no longer just about phone calls and text messages; the data stored on […]

In most areas of the law, details matter… a lot. That is especially true when it comes to applying for a visa. Even seemingly minuscule errors on a visa form can lead to serious delays. This […]

In national news, prosecutors filed a superseding indictment in the federal criminal case against Donald Trump after the Supreme Court granted former presidents substantial immunity. Court papers say […]

An initiative addressing theft and drug abuse has qualified for California’s November 5 ballot, along with a ballot measure passed by the Legislature which increases the rights of prison inmates. […]

When it comes to divorce, women are statistically more likely to initiate the proceedings and file for divorce first. The reasons behind this trend point to evolving societal roles, shifting […]

After walking across the U.S. southern border, violent Venezuelan gang members have flocked to the sanctuary city of Denver where they can commit crimes without fear of deportation. Christina Coulter […]

Any attorney who holds him or herself out as a New York firearm lawyer or an airport weapon attorney, and serves clients arrested or issued summonses in Queens County’s JFK or LaGuardia Airport for […]

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the Supreme Court of North Carolina released on August 23, 2024. These summaries will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a free […]

Special Counsel Jack Smith has filed a new Indictment against Donald Trump in the January 6 case in the District of Columbia. (available here). The charges are the same. But to comply with the […]

Session Law 2024-17 contains several changes to delinquency law and new penalties for soliciting a minor to commit an offense. I covered the changes related to juvenile jurisdiction and the transfer […]

The North Carolina Supreme Court’s opinion in State v. Singleton, No. 318PA22, __ N.C. __ (2024), brings about a transformation of North Carolina indictment law. The case “ends [a] centuries old […]

When parents separate, one of the biggest concerns is how to divide parenting time. An arrangement that is quickly becoming more popular is 50/50 custody. However, 50-50 custody is not included in […]

California’s Board of Parole Hearings (CBPH) has ordered the parole of a Sacramento man convicted of attempting to murder eight people after serving 14 years of a 90-year prison sentence.  The […]

If you’ve been following California’s criminal justice reforms, you’re likely familiar with Proposition 47. Passed in 2014, Prop. 47 reclassified certain nonviolent offenses from felonies to […]

Verizon Wireless is facing a lawsuit after a man claiming to be a detective with the Cary Police Department was arrested for stalking. Last year, Robert Glauner, who is a resident of New Mexico, sent […]

Kamala Harris will accept the nomination tonight. She’ll be her own best champion. I’m already on board. Update: Kamala Harris nailed it. She took on unity, the border, the Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, […]

U.Cal. Berkeley’s Institute for Governmental Studies has a poll taken early this month on three initiatives on that state’s ballot. The press release is here. Proposition 36 is a measure to fix […]

Colorado’s Drug Court system is designed to provide an alternative to traditional criminal justice proceedings for individuals charged with drug-related offenses. This specialized court aims to […]

Theft is a serious crime in Colorado, and when someone is convicted of multiple theft offenses, the consequences become increasingly severe. Colorado law treats repeat offenders with escalating […]

 Sexual assault in Colorado carries significant legal consequences that can impact every aspect of a person’s life. If you or someone you know is facing sexual assault charges in our state, it’s […]

This post summarizes the published criminal opinions from the North Carolina Court of Appeals released on August 20, 2024. These summaries will be added to Smith’s Criminal Case Compendium, a free […]

I tuned in too late for Bill Clinton (and will watch later) but after several subsequent speeches I did hear and was not impressed by, on comes Oprah Winfrey. Okay, she is a professional entertainer. […]

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez Divorce: Key Takeaways Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have captivated Americans’ hearts for over 20 years. Their relationship timeline is filled with moments of joy, […]

What Happens When a Drunk Driver Kills Someone? On August 19, 2024, a catastrophic accident occurred on Interstate 35W in Fort Worth, Texas, resulting in the deaths of five family members, including […]

A Florida drifter, who murdered an 18-year-old college freshman and raped the victim’s 21-year-old sister in 1994, is scheduled for execution on August 29.  Caroline Christensen of WCTV reports […]

Getting arrested in Texas can be an overwhelming experience, but understanding the bail process can help you regain some control. This guide will walk you through what happens after an arrest, […]

When news broke of the split between Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury, fans of the popular couple were heartbroken. After all, Molly-Mae and Tommy had been coupled up since their time on the reality […]

Could Duct Tape Give Scott Peterson a New Trial? The Laci Peterson case, which captured national attention in the early 2000s, remains one of the most controversial and debated criminal cases in […]

Putting forward a criminal defense involves much more than simply making a trial presentation. Criminal cases may be functionally won or lost before either side makes its opening argument to the […]

Under both the United States and Minnesota Constitutions, we have the right to be secure in our “persons, houses, papers, and effects from unreasonable searches and seizures.” But what does it […]