General Law

Incompetence: The Perfect Get out of Jail Free Card

April 8, 2014

Being elected as one of the nine judges at the Texas Criminal Court of Criminal Appeals is an honorable, yet a very difficult way to serve justice in the Lone Star State. This is a judicial body that determines whether the State of Texas actually has the right to invoke capital punishment and execution, and […]

No-Contest Plea Bargain: When Guilt Doesn’t Matter

April 4, 2014

Three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Hugh Douglas, who played with the New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League, recently entered a no-contest plea and avoided spending the next few months in prison. Although Douglas’ choice of nolo contendere served him well, criminal defendants should understand the consequences of entering […]

I Plead Fifth…but What Exactly Does That Mean?

April 1, 2014

Lois Lerner, the Internal Revenue Service official at the center of the alleged targeting of Tea Party political groups that applied for tax-exempt status in 2010 and 2012, recently invoked the Fifth Amendment when called to testify before the United States Congress about her involvement in the politically-charged scandal. If she has not been charged […]

Evading Arrest – Why It’s a Bad Idea to Run From Your Problems

October 2, 2013

It’s never a good idea to flee law enforcement when they are trying to perform an arrest or investigation. Not only will this cause police and investigators to engage in a chase, it can also bring additional criminal charges on top of whatever charge initiated the arrest or investigation. Chasing suspected criminal offenders costs police […]

Selecting an Expert Witness: Tips Every Defendant Should Know

August 28, 2013

Most people have heard about expert witnesses, whether on a television courtroom drama or in news reports of an actual case gone to trial. But what exactly is an expert witness? How should someone choose the best expert witness for their legal case? The answers to these questions are as interesting as they are complex. […]