I have recently taught at a string of seminars on the subject of communication, specifically, communicating with juries. But communicating with juries is really just communicating with people. It is not something that really came naturally to me, particularly after law school. So I had to work at it. Probably ten years ago now, I [...]
What to Do When Charged Being charged with a crime is a serious matter. It is something that can impact your life in many ways. Being charged is something that needs to be taken seriously. This post will take you through the Tarrant County Criminal Process. It will outline the procedure awaiting someone charged in [...]
Being charged with any crime is a very scary experience. Everyone automatically believes that they are going to be sitting in jail for months, possibly even years. It is human nature; the unknown frightens us. This is especially true for DWI offenses. This type of offense, more so than any other, affects all types from [...]
What’s the Difference? This is the third and final article in a series dealing with the types of probation, the aftereffects, and the sealing of records. The first article demonstrated the differences between straight probation and deferred adjudication. In the second article, I outlined what the consequences were for messing up on probation as opposed [...]
Violating Terms of Probation and Deferred Sentences This is the second article in a series dealing with the types (and aftereffects) of community supervision. Namely, straight probation and deferred adjudication. In the first article, I demonstrated the differences between probation and deferred. This article will outline what happens if you screw up while on straight [...]
In case you haven’t heard, there is a fervor currently surrounding the iPhone 5C that San Bernadino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook used as part of his job with San Bernadino County. This fervor stems from the FBI wanting access to the phone and Apple resisting their demands, and public pressure, to simply unlock the phone. [...]
It can be very scary venturing into the world of criminal law for the first time. The sheer amount of information and the fear of the unknown can be terrifyingly overwhelming. One of the most common mix-ups is confusing straight probation and deferred adjudication. Yes, they both are types of community supervision, but they differ [...]
“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” Genesis 9:6 (ESV) I have always heard that in polite company you never discuss politics or religion. Well, capital voir dire must not be polite company, for, as politely as you can, you have [...]
"I JUST FOUND OUT I HAVE A WARRANT!" There are instances when a person finds out they have a warrant ahead of time. It could be a courtesy call from a detective or a probation officer. It could be a letter from the city on a traffic ticket warrant. In this situation the number one [...]
The Beginning of the Criminal Justice System Being arrested, or having a loved one arrested, is one of the most stressful and frightening things imaginable. There are worse calls you can get in the middle of the night, but by anyone’s standard, that call from the jail is a horrible experience. One of the worst [...]
