mintzerlawDefendants who are facing criminal charges have one method of recourse that they may not even know is available. This is called a “no contest” plea, and it has a distinct set of advantages that other pleas do not offer. There are still restrictions regarding this type of plea, and it is not readily available […]
An arraignment is the first step of a criminal case after an arrest. Its purpose is to inform the accused person of the charges against him. The U.S. Constitution’s Sixth Amendment guarantees the accused the right to know what they are accused of. The Founding Fathers added the “arraignment” clause to protect Americans from languishing in jail […]
The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees defendants the right to a speedy trial by a jury of their peers. This right dates back to England’s King Henry II (1154 – 1159) and the Magna Carta (1215). While it seems fairly straightforward, the term “speedy” has been difficult to define. Purpose of the “Speedy Trial” […]
The United States is not unique for having statutes of limitations; in fact, the idea migrated across the pond — originating in ancient Rome. A statute of limitations puts a time limit on the filing of civil lawsuits and the prosecution of crimes. No state has a statute of limitation for murder, although different states vary concerning […]
From the Latin “under punishment,” a subpoena is a written document that requires a person to appear before a court or other legal proceeding at a certain time and place. Failure to do so results in punishment, such as a fine or jail time. Even if the time or place of the legal proceeding is changed, the […]
The following is a guest post post and may not reflect the opinions of Rand Mintzer, Attorney at Law. The law demands that police officers must have a reasonable suspicion before stopping you for drunk-driving. Courts employ various factors to know if the arresting officer had a concrete reason to stop you. In many occasions, […]
The following article was provided by Adam Rosenblum and does not necessarily reflect the views of Rand Mintzer, Attorney at Law. Shoplifting is categorized under the theft crimes in Texas. Generally the punishments are based on how valuable the item or items stolen are. The prosecution and the police officer need to show that you […]
The following article was provided by Lauren Williams, Legal Writer at The Law Offices of Michael Brennan, Chicago Il. More than 10,000 people were killed in 2010 throughout the United States in DWI accidents and 1200 people lost their lives in Texas alone. In order to decrease the DWI accidents in the State, Texas is considering […]