Criminal Law Blog
Prosecutor Withholding Evidence from Defense in Federal Criminal Case
In a criminal case, someone’s freedom — or even their life — is on the line. Legally, this places special duties upon the prosecution to be fair with the defendant. All sorts of laws exist to protect against abuse by the state: things like the Speedy Trial Act, for instance. Prosecutorial Duty to Turn Over…
Federal Forfeiture Reform: 81% Property Seized By DOJ from People Never Charged With a Crime
Last week, the Office of the Inspector General in the Department of Justice published its report on federal civil forfeiture, entitled “Review of the Department’s Oversight of Cash Seizure and Forfeiture Activities.” The full report is available online and has been stored in the Michael Lowe Digital Library for your convenience. Read it here. …
Intellectually Disabled or Mentally Ill: Competency to Stand Trial and the Insanity Defense
This week, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) issued its opinion in Moore v. Texas (read it here). This case is not only a victory for Texas Death Row inmate Bobby Moore; it’s also a major event in Texas criminal law. Why? SCOTUS has ruled that the Texas legal procedure for determining if…
10 Things to Know About Mail Fraud Prosecutions
If you are following the criminal trial of Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price, then you know that one of the big federal felony charges he’s facing is five counts of “Deprivation of Honest Services by Mail Fraud, Aiding and Abetting.” John Wiley Price’s Felony Counts 2 -7: Mail Fraud That’s in addition to the…
FBI Investigations and DOJ Prosecutions: Fighting for Your Privacy Rights
Of paramount concern to criminal defense attorneys is protecting due process and making sure that any investigation and prosecution by the government abides by constitutional protections like limited police powers, the right to privacy, and search and seizure protocols. Criminal Defense and Privacy Protections This is true for the underlying investigation into criminal activity. It…
Dallas County Bond Schedule 2017
The latest Dallas County Bond Schedule has been placed into Michael Lowe’s Digital Library on Scribd. It’s provided for free as a public service. The Dallas County Bond Schedule is effective February 2017. As explained in the document: “These are recommended amounts. Bonds may be set higher or lower than the amounts shown if justified…
Texas Needs New Asset Forfeiture Law Reform: Spread the Word
Asset forfeiture: yes, we’re back on the stump about it again. First, let’s talk about the status of the pending asset forfeiture reform legislation as of the end of February 2017. We wrote about this proposed legislation right around Christmas; see the details in “Will Texas End Civil Forfeiture in 2017?” 1. Texas Senate On…
John Wiley Price Trial: a Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer’s 10 Things to Know
Back in July 2014, Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price was arrested by federal authorities on corruption charges. It was a real shock. The entire city reeled from the news of District 3’s “Our Man Downtown” being indicted. For details, read our July 2014 post “The John Wiley Price Case: a Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer’s…
Heroin Overdose Antidote Naloxone (Narcan) Available Over the Counter in Dallas and Fort Worth
Heroin overdoses kill people. Ditto, other opioids – like fentanyl. In fact, it’s much easier to OD on fentanyl than heroin. Why? Fentanyl is extremely powerful; more so than heroin. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Here in North Texas, combining heroin with synthetic opioid fentanyl is popular. Fentanyl-heroin blends are sold…
