Year: 2016

hate crime

We often think of hate crimes as offenses of extreme violence, such as the shooting deaths of nine black churchgoers in Charleston last year. But they may not necessarily be crimes of violence. Recently, the International Business Times reported how a senior prank that involved the painting of the words “whites only” on public school…

If you are convicted of a DWI in Texas you will face a massive financial headache. Recently TxDOT said on a billboard you will likely end up paying as much as $17,000 for the offense. Some of the costs you will face are controversial, in particular the program that requires drivers who have been convicted…

Society takes a dim view of drug offenders but sentences of life in prison seem unduly Draconian when their offenses didn’t involve violence. This certainly appears to be the view of President Barack Obama whose office has commuted the sentences of two drug offenders from Texas. The offenders whose sentences have been commuted are Douglas…

Duane Buck

Allegations of racism in the criminal justice system are nothing new but a high profile case in Texas has led to soul searching at a national level over allegations that a man was sentenced to death because he is black. In April, the U.S. Supreme Court conferenced a decision on whether it will again address…

Dallas criminal defense attorney Mick Mickelsen addresses questions about the effectiveness of a major Texas’ hate crime law. Dallas, TX – Following recent news about a string of attacks in a Dallas neighborhood that are being examined as possible hate crimes, Dallas criminal lawyer Mick Mickelsen has released a publication answering long-held questions regarding the…

Texas criminal defense lawyer Mick Mickelsen discusses the recent decision of the SEC to file securities fraud charges against Ken Paxton. Dallas, TX – The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently decided to file securities fraud charges against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in federal court in connection with allegations that he misled investors in…

imitation weapon

Texas is seeing a spike in crimes committed with imitation weapons, partly because offenders believe they will receive a lesser sentence if they are caught. It’s a perception that’s false in Texas. If the victim of a crime believes the weapon that’s pointed at them is real it’s sufficient to warrant a first-degree felony charge…

Dallas criminal defense lawyer Mick Mickelsen discusses complexities of criminal cases involving alleged hate crimes. Dallas police are investigating a recent Oak Lawn area attack as a purported hate crime. Local media reports say there has been a string of reported attacks and robberies in the area since last summer, and possibly more that have…

Prosecutors say they plan to retry a former Fort Worth police officer who was recently released after serving more than 20 years of a life sentence for rape. Dallas, TX – A former Fort Worth police officer convicted of the rape of a 13-year-old girl more than two decades ago is facing retrial after recently…

A 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel has determined a Texas prison ban concerning beards and religious headwear is illegal. A three-judge 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel in New Orleans has ruled that an inmate ban on 4-inch beards and religious headwear imposed by a Texas prison is not legal. Recent news…