Nationwide Law Enforcement Sweeps Continue
How did a Norcross man get to Indiana without a driver’s’ license? More importantly, why did he get pulled over during a DUI sweep when he apparently hadn’t been drinking? Officer Fisher with the Plymouth Police Department stopped the vehicle at 225 E. Jefferson Street and identified the driver as a 29-year-old man. He was […]
What the Bill of Rights Means to You
The Founding Fathers, primarily future president James Madison, added the Bill of Rights to the Constitution for political purposes. The guarantees of personal liberties convinced voters in states where the Constitution was unpopular, like New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, to support the document’s ratification. However, sometimes politicians get it right. The first ten amendments to […]
Lawmakers Mull Expanded Cash Bond Requirement
Democrats and their allies claim that a proposal to require cash bail in about two dozen cases is unfair and unconstitutional. Senate Bill 63 would add more than two dozen offenses to the list of charges requiring cash bond while limiting charitable bail funds, including those ran by churches, protest groups, and individuals, from securing […]
Civil and Criminal Law Issues in School Shootings
The number of violent deaths in American public and private schools has dropped significantly since the 1990s. However, that statistic is little comfort to the families of these children. Furthermore, these incidents always make major headlines, putting considerable pressure on law enforcement to make arrests and prosecutors to obtain convictions. Violent incidents at school, or […]
Post-Conviction Matters in Georgia
Judges sentence most defendants to probation. Nationwide, about three million people are under court supervision (probation or parole). The prison population is under two million. Usually, court supervision includes restrictive conditions. Additionally, Georgia law doesn’t cap the length of probation. Therefore, court supervision terms in the Peach State are much longer than the terms in […]
Would More Money for Law Enforcement Mean Less Crime?
Lawmakers hope that higher salaries and better tools will help local and state law enforcement agencies take a bite out of crime. Governor Brian Kemp’s proposed $37.5 billion spending plan includes $3,000 raises for state law enforcement, $500 million for a state employee pension fund, funding for a Georgia Bureau of Investigation gang task force […]
Civil and Criminal Law Issues in School Shootings
The number of violent deaths in American public and private schools has dropped significantly since the 1990s. However, that statistic is little comfort to the families of these children. Furthermore, these incidents always make major headlines, putting considerable pressure on law enforcement to make arrests and prosecutors to obtain convictions. Violent incidents at school, or […]
Five Critical Points in a Criminal Defense
Many people use the pebbles and sand analogy to illustrate priorities. Put the pebbles in a jar first and there’s plenty of room for the sand. Take the opposite approach, and your jar overfills, and not in a good way. Likewise, if a criminal defense focuses on five key points, the outcome is usually successful. […]
The Supreme Court’s Criminal Law Revolution
Earl Warren was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court between 1953 and 1969. He presided over the Court’s criminal law revolution, which lasted between 1961 and 1969. Most people, including Republican President Dwight Eisenhower, who appointed Warren, thought he would lead the Court in the other direction. Boy, were they wrong. Warren’s background gave people […]
Drug Possession Cases from Start to Finish
The recently concluded Afghanistan War was a “forever war” that seemed endless. The War on Drugs is much the same. President Richard Nixon issued this declaration of war in 1971. Today, more than fifty years later, there’s still no end in sight. So, authorities have changed tactics. They now focus primarily on drug possession enforcement. […]
