There are two kinds of courts that hear criminal cases – state courts and federal courts. While there is a great deal of variation between state and federal courts, federal courts are required to hear certain types of cases regardless of the state in which they are located. This article will discuss some of the… Read More
It is never a wise idea for a person to proceed with a case in federal court without the assistance of a skilled attorney. While representing one’s self in federal court without an attorney can appear to be an inexpensive and affordable method, there is a much lower chance that a person’s case will resolve… Read More
Bail is an agreement that the court will authorize a person’s release provided that the person promises to follow any conditions listed by the court. If a person fails to satisfy any of the terms of a bond, he or she will be returned to jail to await trial. The Power of the Eighth Amendment… Read More
All criminal defendants in the state of Georgia have the right to a speedy trial, which is an important right that offers several advantages. If prosecution violates this right, criminal charges against a person will likely be dismissed even if incriminating evidence against the person exists. It is often essential that a person retain the… Read More
In April of 2017, a Macon woman was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison for a $60,000 tax fraud scheme, according to The Telegraph. The woman wept as she told a U.S. district judge that she fell into the wrong crowd and that was the reason for the crime. She opened… Read More
An important role of the federal criminal process is the grand jury. The main purpose of a grand jury is to decide whether an individual should be charged (or “indicted”) for a specific crime, usually only serious crimes. Because of the purpose of this proceeding, it is usually one of the first procedures in a… Read More
When beginning a federal criminal case, what often scares people the most is being unsure of what is to come, not only of the outcome but also the steps involved. This is a complex process and before you begin, you should have a complete understanding of federal criminal trials. Below is an order of events… Read More
After most people are arrested and placed in a jail cell, one of their first thoughts is, “When can I get out of here?” After a defendant is arrested, he or she will attend an initial appearance as soon as is practical. Here, the defendant may be released or held in custody until the trial… Read More
On December 19, 2016, a federal appeals court overturned the convictions of former Massachusetts Probation Commissioner John O’Brien and two former deputies, Elizabeth Tavares and William Burke. In overturning these convictions, the Court ruled that the prosecutors failed to prove a scheme to favor politically connected job candidates was a federal crime. O’Brien, Tavares, and… Read More
A case that got appealed to the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia following a conviction for second-degree murder has been overturned in the defendant’s favor because the prosecutor made an interesting mistake: He got the law wrong. The case began in Germany, when ex-military member Rico Williams, who had stayed abroad to be… Read More