In 2015, Texas elected officials passed a bill making it a misdemeanor to publish intimate photos of an ex-partner. Laws have been enacted across the country that make it a crime to commit what has come to be known as revenge porn. However, last week a Texas appeals court struck down that law arguing it […]
Revenge Porn in Texas is Alive and Well, For Now Read More »
A former candidate for City Council in St. Petersburg, Akile Anai, will be going to court later this month to face charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Anai, a vocal member of the city’s Uhuru movement, claims she is the target of police and political action. As in most of these cases, there are
Former St. Pete City Council Candidate Faces Resisting Arrest Charge Read More »
Get tough on crime is a favorite political slogan of politicians, including those in the Sunshine State. Before he switched parties and was elected to the US House of Representatives, Charlie Crist was one of those politicians who used “get tough on crime” to advance his political career. He was even nicknamed “Chain gang Charlie”.
Crime and Punishment Florida Style Read More »
Witnesses are usually most effective in situations where they are unimpeachable. The integrity of a witness depends on two things-the reliability of their testimony as well as their personal integrity. No lawyer wants to put a witness on the stand that can be impeached because of a checkered history. Yet, that’s exactly what Miami-Dade prosecutors
Improbable Witness Helps Convict Driver on DUI Charges Read More »
DUI arrests spike at this time of the year. Police set up wolf packs to nab drunk drivers and drivers don’t take into account this increased law enforcement focus of DUI arrests. From Thanksgiving until after the New Year, many Pinellas residents will begin the New Year facing legal issues and mounting bills because they
DUI in Pinellas County ‘Tis the Season Read More »
Normally, downtown St. Pete is a pretty tame place. On any given day or evening, it’s filled with locals and tourists shopping or dining out. But on the night of February 10, 2016, that serenity would be shattered. Bobby Ryan and Christopher Motlenski were at Angelo’s Grill and Bar on First Avenue N in downtown
Stand Your Ground Returns to Spotlight After Deadly Bar Fight Read More »
Polygraphs, popularly known as lie detectors, measures a person’s physiological status when asked a pre-determined set of questions designed to evaluate truthfulness. Polygraphs measure heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and skin conductivity. They remain controversial and have been so since their invention in 1921 by a University of California Berkley medical student and a police
Accused of Sex Abuse? Take a Polygraph Read More »
It’s the age-old question, do the ends justify the means? Is it ok to do something immoral or illegal in order to obtain a good outcome? The question has been debated by ethicists and philosophers since before the time of Aristotle. While the debate rages on in academic circles, the US Constitution provides a clear
Paul Manafort Should Be a Big Fan of the 4th Amendment Read More »
False arrest is not the same as innocence. In order to prove that you’ve been falsely arrested, certain legal criteria have to be met. You have to be unlawfully restrained (arrested) against your will and the arrest was unreasonable given the circumstances. Since the courts normally give the benefit of the doubt to law enforcement,
Florida False Arrest Read More »
Outrage is the new drug of choice in this country and to a certain extent we’re all addicted to it. Our appetite for outrage has grown so powerful, we often overlook the facts which are sometimes complex and require a thorough examination. This is what happened in the Utah case involving Alex Wubbels, the Salt
She Fought the Law and the Law Won. Good for the Law! Read More »