Under the U.S. Constitution, criminal defendants have the right to confront or cross-examine witnesses in court under the Sixth Amendment. Such cross-examinations are meant to take place in person. If not, a violation of the constitutional rights exists. A recent U.S....
Being charged with a criminal offense is stressful and scary, especially if it is as serious as manslaughter. However, it doesn't mean that you can't fight the charges and get a desirable outcome. If you have been accused of manslaughter, it is important to understand...
Under the United States Constitution, the police usually must obtain a warrant to complete a legal search of your private property. This rule is in place to protect your right to privacy and against unreasonable searches. However, it is important to be aware of when...
Receiving a traffic ticket results in more than an unexpected and inconvenient delay. Tickets come with fines and marks against a driving record. Texas residents might find their insurance premiums go up. Others could risk losing driving privileges after incurring too...
Texas residents store a great deal of personal and confidential information on their computers, cellphones and other electronic devices, and the Fourth Amendment protects this data from unreasonable government searches and seizures. This means that police officers...
The Fourth Amendment gives people the right to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures, and courts in Texas and around the country take this protection seriously. However, there are a few situations where the Fourth Amendment does not apply and police...
"Pretext" is a term that comes up when addressing the legality of traffic stops. In Texas, the police might have a pretext to stop a vehicle for a seemingly minor violation. After pulling a car over, the routine traffic stop may escalate. A driver may wonder about...
If you have been charged with a crime in Texas, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. However, many cases are resolved through plea deals that are negotiated before they have the chance to get to trial. There may be several benefits...
When a minor within the Dallas-Fort Worth area is arrested, it can be quite difficult to determine the outcome of their trial. Because they are a minor and have little to no understanding of the law, states will seek to protect them. However, total forgiveness for...
Once upon a time not so very long ago, patients could visit various doctors and obtain multiple narcotics prescriptions with little fear of the legal consequences. The practice became known as "doctor-shopping," and it greatly contributed to the flood of opioid drugs...
