Michael Morton, Art. 39.14, and Brady v. Maryland: An Affirmative Duty To...
Last month, we posted a piece about a landmark decision, Heath v. State, in which the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals held that a prosecutor has an affirmative duty to determine if law enforcement has...
View ArticleDefense Discovery of Evidence in Criminal Cases In Texas
Discovery in criminal cases in Texas has a tortured history. The State’s discovery statute, Article 39.14 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, was enacted in 1965. As the Texas Court of Criminal...
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What is Wire Fraud?
Wire fraud is a federal crime that can result in significant penalties, including fines and jail time. Under federal law, wire fraud occurs when: A person schemes to defraud another of money,...
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Defenses to Vehicular Homicide Charges
Imagine this: you’re involved in a tragic accident, and before you can fully process what happened, you’re facing accusations of vehicular homicide. It’s a terrifying thought—one moment that changes...
View Article“Cash for Kids” Scandal Continues to Harm Justice
It took place in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in the early 2000s and would become what would be known as the “kids-for-cash” scandal. It began when two Luzerne County judges, Mark Ciavarella, and...
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What is Drug Trafficking Under Federal Law?
When it comes to federal drug trafficking charges, appearances can be deceiving. You don’t need to be caught selling drugs or running a large operation to face life-changing consequences. Sometimes,...
View ArticleFederal Entrapment: Its Origins And Defenses
Entrapment is a legitimate defense to any criminal charge, federal or state. No federal statute authorizes the defenses, although some states have codified the defense, like Texas (Texas Penal Code §...
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Federal Fraud Investigation Defense
Federal fraud investigations are no small matter. They can disrupt your life, career, and finances, casting a shadow over your future. If you find yourself under the scrutiny of a federal law...
View ArticleForensic Firearm Evidence: Flawed Expert Testimony Leads to Tragic Results
Forensic identification science begins with comparing a questioned item of evidence to a sample of a known source to determine if they match. Then, the examiner must determine the probability of the...
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Can the Police Lie to You During an Investigation?
Yes, the police can lie to you during an investigation. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true—officers are legally permitted to mislead you during questioning. Whether it’s claiming they have evidence...
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