A Florida appeals court has applied the state’s “Stand Your Ground” law to throw out second-degree murder charges against a man who shot two other men outside an Opa-locka Chili’s in 2008. The case exposes the trouble state judges are having in applying the controversial law, and emphasizes the need…
The Florida Department of Children and Families received a spate of calls regarding alleged abuse involving a father and his young son. Authorities dug deeper to learn the accused had recently been embroiled in a custody battle with his ex-wife over the son in question. Investigators found no evidence of…
Since pop singer Justin Bieber was arrested in South Florida for DUI recently, it has become apparent that there were some things that the singer did that may not work in his favor with regard to his criminal case. However, there are some things that his DUI defense lawyers will…
An appellate court recently denied an appeal by a defendant in a white collar criminal case, following his conviction on charges of mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, theft from an organization receiving federal funds, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The denial of this appeal means the nine-year…
One of the smartest things a person can do if stopped by a police officer is decline consent to a search – be it of your vehicle, your home or your persons. It may not prevent the search from taking place. It may not even prevent your arrest. But clearly…
There is a tendency among criminal defendants facing serious felony charges to assume they have few options. Pressured by prosecutors and busy public defenders, defendants may be be quick to accept a less-than-advantageous plea deal, simply because they assume there is little chance of successfully fighting the charges at trial.…
For many college students, dorm life is the first taste of freedom and adulthood. But a dorm room is not exactly like a private residence when it comes to searches. What you need to understand is that while you are protected against unlawful searches and seizures from police, the school…
Outrage was spurred after a 16-year-old drunk driver received 10 years of probation following a fatal wreck in which four people were killed and two seriously injured. A psychologist at the trial testified that the teen, who lived on his own in a home purchased by his father, suffered from…
The Fourth Amendment well establishes that before a police officer can initiate a traffic stop, he or she must have reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed or is about to be committed. But in the case of Navarette v. California, the question is what obligation does a patrol…
Glittering lights may adorn the outside of many homes this time of year. Too often though, that facade betrays the darker reality of what is occurring behind closed doors. There is no question that the number of domestic violence charges in Browardand elsewhere spike during the holiday season. Contributing factors…