Category Archives: Media Watch

Is There Chaos in the Dallas Criminal Justice System? Consider These Five News Stories in May 2016

Criminal defense lawyers tend to see the world a bit differently than most. Maybe that’s because we are privy to things that most of the general public is not and it skews our perspective. However, if anyone has been reading the news stories for the past three or four weeks coming out of Dallas County,…


Johnny Manziel, Domestic Violence Allegations: 5 Lessons

Tomorrow, the Dallas Grand Jury will hear from a prosecutor as the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office present its case against Johnny Manziel. The Grand Jury will hear the DA’s evidence that the former NFL quarterback physically assaulted his girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, at the Hotel ZaZa in downtown Dallas back in January 2016 and again…


Rape or Sexual Assault: Accusations or Gossip vs. Innocence and Texas Criminal Defense These Days

Rape and sexual assault are serious issues. These crimes deserve serious consideration and discourse. However, sexual assault charges and claims of rape are also two very hot topics in the news as well as social media in 2016. And today, it’s possible for someone merely to imply that one of these crimes has been committed…


Fighting to Stop Asset Forefeiture by Police Isn’t That Easy

You know that the issue of asset forfeiture is a big deal in this country when it’s reported that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), FreedomWorks, Americans for Tax Reform, the Center for American Progress, and the Faith and Freedom Coalition — among others — have joined together in their efforts to stop the practice…


Will Media Coverage Finally Stop Government From Grabbing Your Property in Forfeiture?

 Finally, the public is waking up to the wrong that is civil forfeiture laws – something that we’ve been monitoring here since April 2010. There’s still lots to be done, but there is reason to be optimistic that the government’s ability to grab your property without any criminal wrongdoing even being alleged on your part…


Texas’ “No Refusal” DWI Campaign In National Spotlight As People Start to Realize It’s Violating Constitutional Civil Rights

Texas criminal defense attorneys hopefully will find a benefit from the growing national media attention to the state’s No Refusal campaigns that attempt to target drunk driving dangers but in doing so, endanger basic civil rights – something that every American should know. When rights are taken from you, there’s usually no advance invitation sent…


Suspicious Ray Gricar Actions as D.A. Investigating Penn State Child Abuse Makes Me Think Gricar Is Alive and Well, and the FBI Does Too

Ray Gricar is a name that most people recognize now, as the Penn State scandal just keeps getting bigger.  It’s Ray Gricar’s story that I want to discuss, but first things first. Right now, this Pennsylvania DA is talked about like he’s dead, maybe a good guy who got assassinated; assistant football coach Mike McQueary…


Texas DA Reported to Trade Cash for Freedom or Light Sentences. Lotsa Cash.

Texas District Attorney Lynda Kaye Russell, the head prosecutor for Shelby County, Texas, apparently is in big, big trouble if a news report from the Associated Press, which is being picked up all over the country, is accurate. Where’s Shelby County?  It’s near the Texas – Louisiana border (you may recognize the area as Center,…


Texas Driver Responsibility Surcharge Nightmare: DPS Isn’t Following the New Law

Effective September 1, 2011, a new law went into effect here in Texas designed to help lots of folk convicted of a moving traffic violation, by changing the old law that required everyone who got a traffic ticket (including DWI) to pay a Driver Responsibility surcharge. For details, check out our post back in August…


Texas Border Danger: New Website Invites Your Video, EMails Documenting Lack of Law Enforcement in South Texas

The Department of Agriculture has put up a website, ProtectYourTexasBorder, where anyone is invited to upload photographs, videos, or email their own personal stories about how dangerous it really is down there near the border between Texas and Mexico. And by near the border, we mean anytime you get around 90 miles (or an hour…