Whether you hear it on television or your attorney says the term, the word discovery gets used frequently in criminal cases. When preparing for trial, attorneys from both sides engage in the process of discovery. Discovery is the exchanging of legal information...
After investigators obtain a wide-variety of evidence from a crime scene, they then perform a myriad of tests to determine whether it links the suspect to the crime. Not all of the tests performed, however, are proven to be scientifically valid. In fact, some methods...
A drug conviction may mean serious trouble for anyone who receives one. Yet, if you are living in or around Washington, D.C., as a legal permanent resident or another type of noncitizen, the stakes may prove even higher. Any type of drug conviction, regardless of its...
As science continues to progress and evolve, the criminology fields also change. In recent years, evidence related to DNA science has grown ever more important. You likely understand a thing or two about how DNA factors into court cases. But what do you know about...
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A Maryland appeals court has overturned the convictions of one of four men who were found guilty in the killings of two Maryland high school students on the eve of their graduation. The Court of Special Appeals ruled Thursday that a trial judge erred...
On January 14, 2021, in the Court of Special Appeals, Isabelle Raquin and Steve Mercer secured a major win in a complex criminal case involving forensic science. RaquinMercer won the reversal of the 2017 murder conviction in Galicia v. State of Maryland, No. 3350...
A Maryland drug conviction may mean major changes to your lifestyle, and it may, too, mean time behind bars. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your drug offense and whether you meet other eligibility criteria, you may be able to avoid spending time behind...
DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, a substance present in your genes and those of all other human beings. Your DNA profile identifies you in much the same way as your fingerprints do. However, as FindLaw explains, forensic experts need only an incredibly small...
It may be easy to dismiss claims of self-defense made by those facing criminal charges. Yet at the same, you likely recognize that there are scenarios where you may feel compared to act in defense of yourself, your family, your home and property, and even your...
Washington D.C. has harsh laws that handle mail fraud. You can end up facing time in jail and enormous fees if convicted of a charge related to mail fraud. The severity of these penalties depend on the severity of the charges. Thus, it is important to understand what...