What Information Comes Up in a Background Check?
Growing up, most of us heard the stories about our âpermanent record.â Getting into trouble at school could mean more than just a trip to the principalâs office or a stint in detention or even (gasp!) a suspension â it could be a mark on our permanent record that would follow us and interfere with…
Read MoreHow Does Bail Work?
Anyone who grew up suffering through marathon Monopoly games with their siblings (while one player invariably stole $20s from the bank) likely knows a thing or two about bail. But if you or someone you love find yourself in need of bail money â perhaps for stealing from an actual bank â you do not…
Read MoreGrand Theft⊠Ambulance?
Well folks, we have another one. A case where someone is accused of a crime that sounds so far-fetched that you have to wonder if itâs real or if itâs part of the plot of a TV sitcom. According to an article on CNYCENTRAL.com, a woman in Upstate New York is accused of stealing an…
Read MoreDo You Have the Right to a Speedy Trial? Apparently Not During a Pandemic
Being arrested and charged with a crime can be terrifying â regardless of whether or not you are guilty. But what if youâve been arrested and are in jail awaiting your trial when a global pandemic hits and the wheels of justice suddenly stop turning? Now youâre facing the possibility of a criminal conviction â…
Read MoreTouch Your Nose and Point Your Toes: The Problem with Field Sobriety Tests
Letâs say that youâve never been pulled over for a DUI, but youâve seen it happen on TV, in film, and in ads. Goes something like this, right? Driver drives erratically. Cops pulls him over. Cop knocks on window. Cop asks driver to exit vehicle. Driver stumbles out. Driver then performs a series of awkward…
Read MoreGlobal Effort to Bring Down Organized Crime? Thereâs an App for That
If youâre a regular reader of this blog, you know how much I love a good cop procedural, and movies about criminal shenanigans. Iâm especially fond of The Sting, because you canât put Redford, Newman, and Shaw in a movie and NOT have it be wonderful. So in case you were wondering, heck yeah Iâm…
Read MoreFrequently Asked Questions about DUI/DWI Charges in Annapolis
Summer is here, folks, and so my work begins. Statistically, summer months always see an increase of certain types of crimes (heat makes people nuts, you know?) and injuries, which is why a lot of my colleagues call this the 100 Days of Hell. For me, itâs not the heat that drives my business, but…
Read MoreCrime Doesnât Pay. Apparently, Neither Does Annapolis PD
As a criminal defense lawyer, I spend a lot of time arguing with cops. It comes with the job. People think weâre on opposite sides of the law, but thatâs not really true. Weâre both supposed to be upholding the laws, even if we do it in different ways. So when police officers suddenly find…
Read MoreDonât Be a (Super) Hero. Itâll Land You in Prison.
Whether youâre into DC or Marvel, movies or comics, we can all agree on one basic idea: superheroes are awesome. Itâs a fun fantasy, the idea of some super-powered, ultra-moral person above the agendas and borders of modern law and society, saving people and defeating evil. Usually thereâs spandex involved. No oneâs allowed to question…
Read MoreEx-Cons May Be Able to Serve on Juries Soon, Making Them as Miserable as Everyone Else
The right to a fair trial with a jury of your peers has been upheld in this country for centuries. Almost every citizen over 18 in the country has been summoned to jury duty at some point in their lives, even if they get dismissed for whatever reason before they enter the court. That being…
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