If you are facing a criminal conviction, and you think that there was an error during your original trial, you have a right to appeal the decision. Because a conviction results in a major change of life circumstances, it may be worth examining the options for appeal....
Many in Maryland might find it difficult to not view a claim of self-defense with anything but skepticism. That likely comes from the idea that such an assertion is simply too convenient given the context. Yet it is that very context that may indeed justify one's...
Maryland considers first-degree murder the most serious type of homicide, i.e., causing the death of another human being, that a perpetrator can commit. FindLaw explains that Section 2-201 of the Maryland Criminal Law Code defines first-degree murder as the willful...
When crime scene investigators gather evidence, they often take it to a lab for processing. They try to connect the hair samples, shoe prints or blood spatters they found at the crime scene to the suspect or potential perpetrator. Yet, some tests run by scientists may...
Getting a guilty verdict in a criminal trial is a grim moment for a defendant. Nonetheless, the verdict does not necessarily doom a defendant to serving a sentence. To ensure justice, convicted defendants in Maryland and the District of Columbia have the right to...
When it comes to criminal cases, courts consider DNA evidence as a reliable indication of a person's guilt or innocence. A technician will collect DNA samples at the scene of the crime, take them to a lab, and test them to look for a potential match. When there is a...
DNA was a breakthrough when law enforcement first began using it to identify suspects. The technology has also increased and improved by leaps and bounds. However, despite its high-tech nature, DNA is not infallible. The US Department of Justice explains human error...
Bribery is the acceptance of anything of value in exchange for influence over the actions of someone holding a public or legal duty. Bribery can take the form of money, favors or other gifts of value. Bribery cases typically involve people in public office, police or...
In just a few decades, the science of DNA testing revolutionized criminal justice. The presence of a person's DNA at a crime scene may be enough to secure a conviction. According to Ryan Forensic, DNA testing systems, today are so sensitive that they can analyze...
One of the consequences of a felony conviction is the potential to lose your rights to own or possess a firearm. Whether you can get these rights back depends on where you live. Each state manages its own laws concerning felony consequences and the ability to restore...