Posts Tagged ‘criminal defense’
A New Tennessee Law Criminalizes Mothers who Abuse Drugs During Pregnancy
A Tennessee law that went into effect on July 1, 2014, would allow a woman to be charged with assault for the harm her drug use has inflicted on her child. State officials thought that this was the best course of action to stem the tide of infants born dependent on drugs. On July 8th,…
Read MoreCan You Really Be Charged with DUI When You are Not Driving Your Car?
In Tennessee, the short answer is yes. Let’s say, for example, you are riding as a passenger in your car while someone else is driving, and that person has had too much to drink. If the police pull the car over because the driver has been swerving or driving erratically, and they charge the driver…
Read MoreNew Texting Gun Would Catch Drivers Texting Behind the Wheel
Texting while driving is a threat to safety on the road that is growing more and more significant as more people think that they can get away with texting behind the wheel, according to the National Highway & Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA website distraction.gov. Texting behind the wheel causes more impairment than drinking and driving.…
Read MoreOctober is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
The news has been inundated with stories regarding famous athletes, celebrities and politicians committing acts of domestic violence on their partners, spouses and children. There is no excuse for violence, but acts committed against loved ones seem especially heinous. In the hopes of spreading awareness about the horrific nature of domestic violence, we share with…
Read MoreWhat Does “Contempt of Court” Actually Mean?
If you watch police procedurals or legal-based TV shows, you’ve probably heard a judge say “You’re out of order, Counselor” (or something along those lines) and then fine the attorney or the client for being in “contempt.” As a general rule, however, these types of shows don’t get the nuances of legal proceedings right, so…
Read MoreFBI Errors May Have Gotten Some People Killed
In 2012, the FBI and Department of Justice launched a massive investigation into 2600 cases – including 45 death row convictions – stemming from the 1980s and 1990s. But after finding evidence of flawed forensic information in 160 cases, the FBI shut the review process down. The Washington Post reports that “According to the FBI,…
Read MoreSimple Assault v. Aggravated Assault
When the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation put together its last report, they discovered that 57% of all crimes in Tennessee are committed against property. Theft and fraud top the list, though vandalism and arson make appearances as well. But from an individual standpoint, there were more cases of assault and aggravated assault than any other…
Read MoreWhen Frat-House Pranks and Toga Parties Go Horribly Wrong
Ah, college – a time for fun and freedom, with a little learning thrown in. For a lot of young men and women, college seems like a fun stop on the way to the “real” world of 9 to 5 jobs and utility bills. Whether you’re a UT Volunteer in Knoxville or a Blue Raider…
Read MoreHappy about the Undisclosed Rape Law? You Can Thank a Policeman.
Let’s get this out in the open: we know that criminal defense lawyers can sometimes appear a bit, well, harsh on Tennessee police. The police are in the habit of seeking punishment for the accused, while we’re in the business of seeking justice in the courts. It can seem like the two are at odds,…
Read MoreTennessee is Number One – And it’s Not Good
The reports are out from the Federal government, and Tennessee hasn’t fared so well. Our great state is number one, alright – number one in violent crimes. Turns out, the Volunteer State hasn’t been doing such a great job living up to its charitable name. According to the report, Tennessee ranks highest in the areas…
Read MoreThe Importance of Hiring a Lawyer if Your Child Is Arrested
Has your son or daughter been arrested for underage drinking, vandalism, theft, DUI or any other type of crime? Whether facing misdemeanor or felony charges, it is vital to your child’s future that you retain prompt and experienced legal counsel. Do not make the mistake of thinking your son or daughter needs to learn a…
Read MoreFive Common Criminal Defenses
To successfully convict a criminal defendant, the government must prove the defendant was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The most common defenses criminal defendants may raise can be grouped into two general categories ― first, denying the defendant did anything (including the alibi defense), and second, acknowledging the defendant did the act but only under…
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