Sealing or expunging a criminal record in Florida has many benefits to the individual. For one, if you are successful in either case, you may legally deny that you’ve been arrested for that crime (except you must disclose the issue if you’re purchasing a firearm, if it was sealed). When a criminal history record is […]
The Difference Between Sealing and Expunging a Criminal Record in Florida Read More »
Normally, a defendant’s prior bad acts are not admissible as evidence in a criminal trial. The underlying reasoning for this evidentiary rule is that a person should be judged for his or her present conduct and not for things that he or she may have done in the past. In this case, prosecutors want to
Clearwater Parking Space Shooting Case Heats Up Read More »
If you’re planning to vote in November, Florida has a surprise for you. This year there are 12 Constitutional amendments on the ballot. That’s the most since 1998 and probably stems from the fact that the Constitution Revision Commission met this year. Amendment 4 concerns the restoration of voting rights for felons. Presently, Florida is
Two Constitutional Amendments in Florida Involve Crime and Criminals Read More »
Sex. Sex abuse. Sexual assault. He said. She said. All of these could partially explain the country’s fascination with the train wreck that we refer to as the Supreme Court nomination process. Of course, we’ve seen this before with Justice Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill but the frenzied nature of the 24-hour news cycle wasn’t
Why the Kavanaugh Spectacle Has Riveted the Nation Read More »
Have you ever heard someone tell a story of a past event many times and noticed that the story changed with each recounting? Is the narrator of the story lying? Is he/she altering the story to make it more appealing? Or is he/she relying on a distant memory that’s not so reliable? Tough questions all
Our Memories-Fact, Fiction, or a Little Bit of Both? Read More »
Since 1966, no court decision has been more impactful in criminal situations than the Miranda warning. In Miranda v. Arizona, the Supreme Court ruled that a suspect must be informed of his rights against self-incrimination and his right to legal counsel. While there is no precise language that must be used in advising a suspect
When Miranda Rights Are Not Required Read More »
The allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh are serious and threaten to sink his bid to become the next Supreme Court justice. Over the weekend, the Washington Post published details of the sexual attack allegations from Palo Alto University professor Christine Blasey Ford. In summary, Ford alleges: While his friend watched, she said, Kavanaugh
The Kavanaugh Nomination, #MeToo, and Statutes of Limitations Read More »
Markeis McGlockton has been buried. His children and family are left to deal with the pain and trauma of having a loved one killed and in plain view of Markeis’ little kids no less. Finally, the case is going to the State Attorney’s office for a decision as to whether the shooter should be charged.
Clearwater Stand Your Ground Case Finally Going to State Attorney Read More »
July 4th is tomorrow, a Wednesday. That won’t dampen revelers and parties from getting out of hand. The 4th of July holiday is right in the middle of summer-a little over a month since the last holiday Memorial Day and more than a month to the next one-Labor Day. Perhaps that’s why so many people
The US Supreme Court reversed a lower court ruling by a vote of 5-4 and struck a victory for privacy rights. Carpenter v. United States is the first case about phone location data that the Supreme Court has ruled on. That makes it a landmark decision regarding how law enforcement agencies can use technology as
US Supreme Court Says Warrant Needed to Track Phones Read More »