Author: Broden & Mickelsen, LLP
Hypnosis conjures up images of magicians and pendulums but it is used to secure convictions in Texas. Now two Dallas defendants who believe the technique landed them on Death Row are challenging the state’s use of hypnosis. The Dallas Morning News reported how Texas has one of the most well-used forensic hypnosis programs in the…
A secretive federal surveillance program led to the arrest of a black activist in Dallas who was jailed for five months over his Facebook posts, a new report claims. The ordeal faced by Rakem Balogun was detailed by The Guardian last week. The black activist described how he was picked up in an FBI operation…
Texas is on the frontline of illegal immigration with its border of more than 1,200 miles with Mexico. The state has also seen the enactment of a controversial ‘sanctuary cities’ law that allows police officers to inquire about a suspect’s nationality. Despite an intense national debate about immigration and crime, four new academic studies suggest…
Revenge porn has made headlines in recent years. It’s the practice of posting nude or semi-nude pictures of a former partner on the internet without his or her permission. Texas has criminalized the practice. However, a court has struck down the Texas revenge porn law for being too broad and in violation of the First…
When you have been charged with a crime, one of the first questions you might ask is what types of defenses are available to you. This is where the advice and counsel of an experienced criminal defense lawyer is invaluable. Your attorney can help you explore your rights and options, including which defense or defenses…
When many people hear “white-collar crime,” they think of so-called “Club Fed” prisons, where prisoners serve lenient sentences and spend their time lounging around swimming pools and golf courses. The reality is much different. While many white collar offenders do serve minimal time in low security prisons, recent white collar cases have shown that prosecutors…
At a criminal trial, it’s usually necessary to establish the ‘guilty mind’ of a defendant to secure a conviction. This doctrine underpins the criminal law and known by the Latin mens rea. However, in the case of Crystal Mason from Texas, a genuine mistake failed to avert a five-year prison sentence. The case has again…
Dallas Criminal Attorney Educates – What Is a Grand Jury? Just about everyone is familiar with the concept of a jury. Generally speaking, a jury consists of a group of people from the community who consider all the evidence in a case and, using jury instructions from the court, determine whether the prosecutor has proved…
Law Update: By Dallas Criminal Attorney Mick Mickelsen It has happened to most people: You’re driving along — maybe belting out the lyrics to your favorite song that just came on the radio — when you see red and blue flashing lights in your rearview mirror. That’s when your heart starts pounding, and your blood…
A statute of limitations sets a limit for prosecuting certain crimes. Criminal charges must be filed within the specified time period or they cannot be filed at all. Not all crimes in Texas are subject to a statute of limitations. There is a good reason why these laws are in place. Evidence deteriorates with time,…