Criminal Defense

Counting the so-so 2018 remake, there have now been six Death Wish films. The first one appeared in 1974, when the vigilante crimefighter genre (Death Wish, Walking Tall, Dirty Harry, etc.) was very popular. Angst over a string of 1960s Supreme Court decisions gave rise to these ...

Like most Texans, you work hard to get what you want. You go to work every day and take care of your family. Unlike some citizens of the Lonestar State, though, you have a criminal conviction in your past. Even though you have paid your fine, served your sentence or otherwise dea...

In Tarrant County, defendants may choose between bench trials and jury trials. Theoretically, the prosecutor must also waive a jury trial. But I have never personally seen a case where the prosecutor would not waive a jury trial. In bench trials, the judge weighs all the evidenc...

Nearly all criminal cases in Parker County – over 90 percent by one count – never reach trial. Instead, prosecutors and defendants agree on a plea deal. This arrangement usually involves reduced charges and/or a lower sentence. If plea negotiations break down, the case will ...

These headline-grabbing 1990s cases passed from the public consciousness a long time ago. But they still have some very important lessons for criminal cases in Tarrant County. USC and Buffalo Bill standout O.J. Simpson played running back during the 1960s and 1970s. He still hol...

Did they get justice or did they get away with it? We cannot hope to resolve these questions here, but we can take a few moments to remember some head-scratching (or worse) cases. We can also offer a little insight that may make these events clearer, at least from a criminal law ...

Some people remember March 1981, when Dallas-area native John Hinckley shot President Ronald Reagan and nearly killed him. As more facts came out, it became apparent that Mr. Hinckley was a deeply-disturbed young man. At his trial, Mr. Hinckley used a variation of the irresistib...

Facebook has over 2.2 billion regular users. Instead of telling friends and family about their days, many people tell the entire world about these events. We can argue back and forth about whether that is a good thing or a bad thing. But regardless of your feelings on the matter,...

The Lone Star State has one of the harshest marijuana possession laws in the country. One joint in your hand means up to six months in jail, because possession under two ounces is a Class B misdemeanor. There are some indications that the tide is turning. According to recent pol...

One of my colleagues once recalled a case that went bad from the start because the jury got the wrong impression of his client. My friend carefully instructed his client to remain engaged during the long jury selection process. He suggested that the young man doodle on a notepad ...