Criminal Defense

The US Constitution provides several Constitutional checks on law enforcement. The Sixth Amendment provides: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law,…

You know how in movies, the bad guys always feels the need to give some long, explanatory speech right before he attacks, which leaves juuuuust enough time for the hero to swoop in and stop the attack? You ever think to yourself, “Dear God, just shut up already. You’re making it worse. They’re gonna get…

The police just pulled you over and searched your car. Inside they find your stash of weed. Do you have a defense? The police knock on your door without a warrant and ask to search your home. Can you say “no” to the search? The police stop you because you look like someone they’re investigating…

…okay, I’ll stop there. But who doesn’t love a great joke? And criminal defense lawyers and bumbling stormtroopers sure provide fertile ground for dad jokes and punchlines. Today’s blog is inspired by both stormtroopers and lawyers. In my personal time, I’ve been creating a stormtrooper costume by hand over the past few years. (I know…

The new movie, “Joker,” focuses on the relationship between the Joker’s mental health issues and his criminal behavior. A recent discussion with Dr. Imani Walker, a psychiatrist who also works as the medical Director of Gateways Hospital & Mental Health Center in Los Angeles, helped to place a focus on the character’s disorders and his…

The seriousness of a possession of child pornography charge cannot be underestimated. Possession of depictions of a minor engaged in obscene actions or sexual conduct can lead to criminal charges for each and every picture. Convictions for each count can mean a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Anyone convicted a second time can…

The Baltimore Sun reported on October 9, 2019 that carjackings in the city are rising. In one example, the victim wasn’t even in his car. He was on his brother’s porch getting some sun when two people appeared and demanded that the 60-year-old man give them his car keys and phone. To emphasize their demand,…

People have perceptions of criminal defense mostly through TV, film, and literature. There’s the honorable Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, who fights for a just cause even though his client is found guilty. John Grisham’s novels give readers the idea that lawyers often learn through experience that the system is rigged, and that…

There’s a lot of DIY stuff out there – brewing beer, creating your own makeup, composting your own waste – that seems kinda silly, but they’re mostly harmless. If you really want to learn to make your own yarn from an alpaca, knock yourself out. (Just don’t hurt the alpaca.) But this latest offering? This…

“Breaking and entering” in Maryland is just another way to say “burglary.” Burglary is divided into four different degrees, based on severity: First degree burglary is breaking and entering into somebody’s home or structure with the intent to commit a theft or violent crime. Second degree burglary applies to storehouse (like sheds or garages), as…