We strive to explain the criminal process in a way that makes sense to the average person so our prospective clients know what to expect as they navigate the justice system. One aspect of the system that commonly confuses people is the concept of hung juries. While most people know that a jury must reach […]
Are Lawyers Allowed to Lie on Behalf of Their Clients?
There are probably hundreds of jokes about lawyers lying for a living, but no matter what public opinion, legal standards prohibit attorneys from knowingly telling a lie. If a lawyer lies, he is risking his law license. The American Bar Association’s (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct specifically says that while they must do what […]
Ways Your Lawyer May be Able to Get a Confession Thrown Out of Court
We’ve previously talked about how police push suspects into confessing to criminal acts, but while it’s always better not to confess in the first time, you can still fight the charges even if you have already admitted guilt. Here are a few ways a criminal defense lawyer may be able to have a confession tossed […]
What Pretrial Motions Are Criminal Attorneys Most Likely to Use?
After charges have been filed in a criminal case, after the preliminary hearing in a felony case, and before a trial, a prosecutor or defense lawyer can make court filings called “pretrial motions” to ask a judge to make a particular decision regarding a case before the trial begins. These motions can affect the trial […]
What’s the Point of Multiple Life Sentences?
People can only live once. So what’s the point of judges sentencing people to multiple life sentences? There are actually valid reasons for this strange-sounding criminal penalty, including the real meaning of “life” imprisonment and how the judicial system works. Here’s why courts in California give multiple life sentences and why it makes sense from […]