The Exclusionary Rule Exceptions

Pre-Sentence Report The exclusionary rule states that illegally-obtained evidence and statements obtained through an illegal interrogation, in violation of the Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution, are inadmissible at the criminal trial of a person whose rights were violated. In basic terms, the illegally obtained evidence cannot be used against the… Read More

Federal court building (US Supreme Court)

How Cases Get to a Federal Court

There are two types of court systems — federal and state. Each of these court systems is tasked with hearing different types of cases. While state courts are primarily responsible for interpreting state law, federal courts have the responsibility of hearing a number of different types of cases. Because many people have questions about how… Read More

What the Best Federal Lawyers Have in Common

Commonalities of Successful Federal Lawyers There are a number of traits that the best federal lawyers share, including intelligence, excellent people skills, experience, and the ability to effectively communicate in writing. There are a number of other skills that are common among federal lawyers, however, that many people fail to consider when choosing a lawyer… Read More

What Does Pre-Trial Release Mean?

Similar to state court judges, federal magistrate judges are responsible for deciding at an initial appearance whether an individual who is charged with a crime will remain in custody or is capable of leaving on a bond. Because pre-trial release requirements can be particularly strict, to navigate these matters, it is often critical to obtain… Read More

Criminal offender being held in a jail cell.

What is the First Offender Program?

Understanding the First Offender Program Following a first arrest, it is common to end up experiencing a number of emotions such as confusion and fear. Because most people think that they will never end up facing criminal charges, it is often bewildering to be charged with a criminal offense for the first time. Continue reading… Read More