A grand jury is a group of citizens serving several-month terms to review the results of criminal investigations and solicit testimony in an effort to determine if there is sufficient evidence of the commission of a crime. If so, the grand jury issues an indictment,...
Dallas – Fort Worth Criminal Law Blog
How can I plead self-defense?
Facing charges of a violent crime can be a frightening situation. It has the potential to change your life, and it is essential to defend yourself against these charges – just as you defended yourself in the incident in question. You may wonder: if you acted to defend...
Differences between the adult and juvenile systems
The Texas justice system makes a distinction between adults and juveniles. Texas defines a juvenile as anyone at least 10 years old but younger than 17 when committing a crime. Children have less understanding of how the justice system works, and this is taken into...
New study debunks bitemark evidence again
Over 20 people have been exonerated of crimes that they were convicted of, or arrested for, as a result of bitemark evidence. The data refuting this discipline is becoming more and more difficult to ignore, but courts in Texas are still resistant to accept this new...
Divorcing a high-earning spouse: Could I lose everything?
Ending any marriage can be tumultuous; ending one when you are financially supported by the other person can be incredibly stressful. Before panicking or making any demands or concessions, you should know some important details about Texas property division laws and...
Can eyewitness identifications be trusted?
We’ve all watched a movie or TV crime drama where an eyewitness is on the stand. They’re 100% sure they saw the accused commit the crime despite it being nighttime, the subject’s back was turned, and they only got a fleeting glimpse. The jury uses that testimony to...
An overview of Texas cocaine laws
Texas doesn’t take cocaine possession or distribution lightly. In fact, courts charge all criminal cases involving cocaine at the felony level. Cocaine in Texas Texas law categorizes cocaine as a schedule Π drug but groups it as Penalty 1. A schedule Π drug has a high...
Domestic battery in Texas
It's not uncommon for spouses in Texas to have different perspectives on things. If you don't handle these differences delicately, it can result in heated arguments where people throw things, such as cell phones, at each other. But this may have legal repercussions....
How can you challenge field sobriety tests in Texas?
DUI cases in Texas can be complex, and many factors can come into play. If you were given a field sobriety test after you were pulled over, and you're wondering if there's any way to challenge the results in your case, the following are options to consider. There was...
Can you really get in trouble in Texas for having CBD or THC oils?
Yes, you certainly can. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the psychoactive compound in cannabis. When it makes up 0.3% of a smokable or ingestible product, THC is illegal in Texas. CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-psychoactive product derived from cannabis, either marijuana or...