Author: Broden & Mickelsen, LLP
Juvenile lockups in Texas detain nearly 700 teens who need increased supervision or have committed violent crimes. Although many of these inmates are vulnerable, criticisms of the facilities and the safety of those inside them continue. In October, the federal government ordered an investigation into the troubled facilities, sparking further concern about conditions. The U.S….
Medical professionals are charged with saving lives. However, on occasions, hospitals provide the cover for killings. Earlier this month, a Texas nurse was convicted of capital murder over the deaths of four patients. Prosecutors said he deliberately injected the patients with air after heart surgeries. A report on NBC News stated the jury in Smith…
People who are accused of soliciting prostitution in Texas are facing increasingly tough sentences after the offense became a felony in the state this fall. This month, Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn announced the arrests of 115 men who he said allegedly tried to pay for sex acts for people acting as decoys. The Star-Telegram…
Defendants in Texas are entitled to a fair trial but that does not always happen. This month, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals tossed out the capital murder conviction and death sentence imposed on Clinton Young, a man on death row. The court heard how one of his prosecutors also worked for the judge. The…
The issue of how religious advisors can attend condemned prisoners might seem like a trivial one. However, it has now led to the third postponement of an execution in Texas. The U.S. Supreme Court halted the execution of John Ramirez this month nearly three hours after he was slated to die. It marked the third…
As Dallas criminal defense attorneys we are familiar with cases in which people are arrested on suspicion of DWI even if they have no drugs or alcohol in their system. If you have been charged with drug crimes checkout our drug trafficking page. This is what happened to the wife of Texas GOP gubernatorial candidate…
When you hear the terms manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, it may be hard to distinguish between them. We Asked a Dallas homicide defense lawyer Mick Mickelsen to help us understand. Under Texas law, there are four types of criminal homicide: capital murder, murder, manslaughter, and criminally negligent homicide. Both manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide involve the…
Vehicle crimes have risen over the last two years in Texas, prompting a $13.6 million crime prevention grant from the Motor Vehicle Crime Prevention Authority to law enforcement agencies. The National Institute Crime Bureau recorded a 326 percent increase in catalytic converter thefts from 2019 to 2020 in an area including Central Texas. A report…
Sexual assault is a serious crime that can result in severe punishments if a defendant is convicted. In 2017, there were over 18,000 reported cases of sexual assault, and likely many more cases that went unreported. Sexual assault is unquestionably traumatizing for the victim and can lead to lifelong mental stress and emotional pain. Unfortunately,…
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has vetoed some high-profile criminal justice bills presented to him at the end of this year’s legislative session including a move to allow earlier parole and legislation intended to restrict the use of hypnosis in the criminal justice system. Bills vetoed by Abbott over the weekend included House Bill 686, which…