A person accused of a violent crime can legitimately claim that the violence was necessary for self-defense. A legitimate self-defense claim legally justifies an acquittal. In what kinds of cases can I argue self-defense? Self-defense is a possible defense when the defendant is charged with a violent crime. Typical crimes include: battery (striking someone against… Read More
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How Lawyers Defend a Guilty Client in a Criminal Case
Can my lawyer represent me if he knows I’m guilty? Yes. Defense attorneys are ethically bound to zealously represent all clients, the guilty as well as the innocent. Perhaps no one has ever put the duty as eloquently as Henry VIII’s soon-to-be-beheaded ex-Chancellor Sir Thomas More, who, before going to the scaffold, insisted, “I’d give the… Read More
Q&A: The Insanity Defense to Criminal Charges
Why do we allow a guilty defendant to be found not guilty by reason of insanity? The insanity defense is based on the principle that punishment for serious crime is justified only if defendants were capable of controlling their moral behavior and could appreciate the wrongfulness of their behavior at the time the crime was… Read More
Oakland Mass Murder Shooter Sent to Psychiatric Hospital
Former nursing student, One Goh, who is accused of murdering 7 people and wounding 3 others at Oikos University, appeared in Alameda County Superior Court on January 7, 2013 in Oakland. During the court session, Judge Carrie Panetta ruled that Goh is incompetent to stand trial. On Monday, January 28, Judge Panetta ordered the former… Read More
Top Ten Celebrity Crimes: From Theft to Murder
#10 Winona Ryder According to actress Winona Ryder, she had simply forgotten to pay for thousands of dollars worth of merchandise stuffed in her purse when she was apprehended leaving a Saks Fifth Avenue store in Beverly Hills. Police disagreed. Ryder was convicted of grand theft and given three years probation. #9 Chris Brown Where… Read More
Boy Accused of Murdering 5 Family Members, Wanted a Massacre
Nehemiah Griego, 15, of New Mexico, is accused of gunning down his mother, younger brother, two younger sisters and father in their home in Albuquerque on Saturday, January 19. Bernalillo County Sheriff Dan Houston said Griego was “involved heavily” with violent video games and that he “was quite excited as he got the opportunity to… Read More
8 Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring A Criminal Defense Lawyer
Mistake #1: Using the Public Defender Public defenders are smart, honorable people who work hard for their clients. Unfortunately, they are always overworked and underpaid. Public Defender Offices were mandated by law to represent those people who do not have enough money to hire a private attorney. Therefore, public defenders are constantly juggling an enormous… Read More
Important New Traffic Laws in 2013: DUI, Party Buses, Texting, etc.
The law no longer allows a person who has been arrested and is suspected of driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs, the option of a urine test. Only blood tests will be used to determine the drug content of a person’s blood. Charter-Party Carriers of Passengers (45) Prohibits underage drinking in charter-party carriers (limos, buses,… Read More
When can police arrest a suspect without an arrest warrant?
What is a warrantless arrest? As the name implies, a warrantless arrest is simply an arrest without a warrant. When police officers make a warrantless arrest, a judge does not have a chance to determine ahead of time whether the police have probable cause to make the arrest. Nevertheless, the Fourth amendment probable cause requirement… Read More
Former Death Row Murder Convict Arrested for Allegedly Killing Mother
Dennis Stanworth, 70, of Vallejo, CA, was arrested Thursday, January 10, 2013 on suspicion of the murder of his mother. This is not Stanworth’s first arrest, however. Stanworth was sentenced to death in 1966 for kidnapping and shooting to death two teenage girls. His death sentence was eventually changed to life in prison, which then… Read More