What is the Definition of a Domestic Violence Crime in Texas?
Texas has a wide definition of domestic violence crimes. Although we often think of domestic violence offenses occurring between husbands and wives or people who are dating, there are many more classifications. The Lone Star State recognizes three distinct crimes of domestic violence, namely domestic assault, aggravated domestic assault and continuous violence against the family....Read More
White-Collar Crime in Dallas: What You Need to Know About Wire Fraud
Lawyers for white-collar crime in Dallas must find strong defenses to help clients accused of wire fraud. Learn about these defense strategies. White-collar crimes in Dallas don’t get as much attention as violent felonies because they don’t involve physical injury or physical damage, so the public tends to be less interested in these offenses. But...Read More
What Does the Supreme Court’s Cell Phone Privacy Decision Mean?
Can Police Access Cell Phone Location Data Without a Warrant? In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down what digital privacy experts are hailing as a landmark case in Carpenter v. United States. If you own any kind of mobile phone, including a smartphone, you’ll want to read on to learn what Carpenter...Read More
Secret Bail in Dallas County Faces Criticism
Bail hearings are coming under fire across the country. In Dallas County, the secretive nature of the process is the subject of a lawsuit. Last month, the Texas Tribune reported bail hearings are open to the public in much of the country. The idea is the process should be transparent. However, in Dallas County people...Read More
Police Body Camera Footage Proves Pivotal in Murder Conviction of Officer
Police body camera evidence is a relatively new and powerful tool in criminal trials. Footage has helped expose improper DWI arrests and heavy-handed police tactics. In a recent murder trial, the video footage helped secure the murder conviction of a Texas officer accused of shooting a 15-year-old dead. Police officers are seldom convicted of murder...Read More
Jail Informants Can Send Innocent People to Prison
According to a recent report, information gathered from jailhouse informants is used in 23 percent of death row cases in which the convicted individual is later exonerated. In Texas, a 2017 law made the state one of the most progressive concerning how prosecutors must disclose their use of jailhouse informants, including informing the defense when...Read More
Capital Murder in Texas: Understanding the Crimes and Penalties
Capital murder is one of the most serious crimes that can be committed in the state of Texas. Understanding the laws can help with your defense. According to Texas law, all types and degrees of murder are classified as a criminal homicide. Any crime of murder is serious, and if issued a conviction, it can carry...Read More
Five Ways a Texas DWI Breath Test May be Distorted
Breathalyzers have been used for decades across the country to bring charges against drunk drivers. Many Texas motorists who fail a breath test make the mistake of believing it is foolproof and they should plead guilty. However, there are many factors that can skew a breath test and invalidate a charge. Breath tests in Texas...Read More
How Murder and Felony Murder Are Defined in Texas
Any charge of murder is serious, but the type of murder charge has an impact on your case. Find out the difference between murder and felony murder in Texas. Criminal offenses that coincide with the loss of life result in charges that are among the most serious a person can face. In the state of...Read More
How to Defend Against Intoxicated Manslaughter in Dallas
Intoxicated manslaughter in Dallas is a serious charge, but attorneys have several defense strategies they can use to help their clients. Manslaughter in Dallas is a felony charge under Texas Penal Code, Title 5, chapter 19, and defendants convicted of this crime can face a significant prison sentence. But Texas has upped the ante with...Read More