What is a Motion to Exclude or Suppress Evidence?

  • Posted by Marcia Shein
  • On April 9, 2025
  • 0 Comments
If you are preparing to go to trial on criminal charges, whether they are federal or state charges, your defense attorney may discuss your options for filing a Motion to Exclude or Suppress Evidence. What is this, exactly, and how can it help your chances for an acquittal? The Motion to Suppress A Motion to […]
Read More

The Role of the Confrontation Clause in Trials

  • Posted by Marcia Shein
  • On April 9, 2025
  • 0 Comments
  • Attorney Marcia G. Shein, confrontation clause, Criminal Defense
Any person who is charged with a crime and must take part in a trial faces several obstacles. One of the largest obstacles includes the testimony of witnesses who allege to have seen the person commit the crime in question. These witnesses have the significant potential to severely harm individuals. An important part of the […]
Read More
What Do I Do After Being Arrested for a Federal Crime?

What Do I Do After Being Arrested for a Federal Crime?

  • Posted by Marcia Shein
  • On June 10, 2022
  • 0 Comments
  • Federal Conviction
If you have been arrested for a federal crime, the first thing you MUST do is stop talking to law enforcement officers and do NOT talk to federal prosecutors. This is true if your arrest came as a surprise or if you had some reason to expect an arrest for a federal crime. You might […]
Read More
Suppressing Evidence Made by a Co-Defendant

Suppressing Evidence Made by a Co-Defendant

  • Posted by Marcia Shein
  • On November 16, 2021
  • 0 Comments
  • Bruton Doctrine, co-defendants, criminal defense lawyer
In cases that involve many individuals who are charged with the commission of the same crime, it has increasingly become a problem for one person’s legal counsel to hear incriminating statements about the person from another individual who was involved in the offense. Fortunately, the Bruton doctrine can be used to suppress these statements. If you […]
Read More
What is a “Search” Under the Fourth Amendment?

What is a “Search” Under the Fourth Amendment?

  • Posted by Marcia Shein
  • On September 7, 2021
  • 0 Comments
The Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution states that “[t]he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated.” Many state constitutions have similar protections. In criminal law, an accused — the criminal defendant — can bring a motion before the […]
Read More
Prosecutorial Promises of Immunity: Lessons From the Bill Cosby Case

Prosecutorial Promises of Immunity: Lessons From the Bill Cosby Case

  • Posted by Marcia Shein
  • On June 20, 2021
  • 0 Comments
In a surprise to many, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently overturned Bill Cosby’s 2018 convictions for sexual assault. See Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Cosby, No. 39 MAP 2020 (Pa. Supreme Court June. 30, 2021). Not only were Cosby’s convictions overturned, but the court ruled that he could not be retried. The case has important lessons […]
Read More
How Cases Get to a Federal Court

How Cases Get to a Federal Court

  • Posted by Marcia Shein
  • On June 30, 2019
  • 0 Comments
  • Federal Court, Questions Of Jurisdiction
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
Why Federal Crimes Require a Federal Attorney

Why Federal Crimes Require a Federal Attorney

  • Posted by Marcia Shein
  • On April 9, 2019
  • 0 Comments
  • Federal Charges, Federal Criminal Charges
Defending Against Federal Crimes While many people know someone who has faced criminal charges at the state level, fewer people have come into contact with the federal criminal court system. While there are a number of similarities between the federal and state criminal systems, there are also a number of differences. Due to these differences, […]
Read More
What Does Pre-Trial Release Mean?

What Does Pre-Trial Release Mean?

  • Posted by Marcia Shein
  • On April 1, 2019
  • 0 Comments
  • Bail, Federal Criminal Defense, pre-trial release
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
How Does the Criminal Trial Process Work?

How Does the Criminal Trial Process Work?

  • Posted by Marcia Shein
  • On February 19, 2019
  • 0 Comments
  • Federal Criminal Trials, trial procedure
Understanding the Criminal Trial Process No matter if you are facing charges for a misdemeanor or felony, one of the first questions that you might ask is, “What can I expect from the criminal trial process?” Many people find the criminal trial process confusing and even scary. It is helpful to have a good understanding […]
Read More