Many criminal cases never go to trial. If you face a different situation, you have a complex road ahead. Knowing that Maryland circuit court judges deal with thousands of cases every year, you likely have to wait months to finally get your day in court. As the date...
There are thousands of criminal prosecutions in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., every single year. This means court dockets can become almost overwhelming. Still, the U.S. Constitution guarantees most criminal defendants speedy trials. Plea deals are one...
Even though there are plenty of people in jails and prisons in the U.S., it is not necessarily easy for prosecutors to secure convictions. Before even bringing criminal charges against a defendant, most prosecutors have to be certain they have compelling evidence....
On December 19, 2022, the Supreme Court of Maryland filed Washington v. State, No. 15, September Term, 2022, addressing whether unprovoked flight in a high-crime neighborhood adds to the reasonable articulable suspicion necessary to detain a person under the Fourth...
A Maryland criminal conviction has the potential to impact and upend many aspects of your life. Depending on the details surrounding your offense, some of the penalties you face in the aftermath of a criminal conviction may wind up impacting you for years to come....
For you to count on a fair legal system, judges, jurors and lawyers must be able to handle their duties without undue bias. If any of these participants have a personal stake in your case that could call their objectivity into question, their service might be an...
In instances where you feel you have been wrongfully convicted of a crime, you can ask for post-conviction relief. These examine all factual and legal claims related to your case and take precedence over other court-related processes. Here is what you need to know...
Regarding theft crimes in Washington D.C., specific actions can fall under either a violent crime or a property crime. In general usage, people use the terms robbery and burglary interchangeably. In the courts, though, these words have more specific meanings and come...
Many people behind bars in Maryland and other parts of the country are there because someone said they saw them commit particular offenses. Many people believe eyewitness testimony is one of the most compelling and convincing types of evidence in a court case....
Facing false accusations in a courtroom can put your confidence into a tailspin. You may feel hopeless about your future and the likelihood of restoring your image. Even though you know that you are not guilty, proving your innocence to others often requires a lot of...