Patrick Crusius Face Capital Murder Charges for the El Paso ShootingMore than 20 people were killed and two dozen more injured after a shooting at a shopping center in El Paso, Texas. The shooter has been identified as Patrick Crusius, a 21-year-old from Allen, Texas. Crusius is believed to have posted a white nationalist manifesto on … Read moreWill El Paso Shooter Patrick Crusius Face the Death Penalty?
Gamble vs. United States (2019)The Supreme Court handed down its decision in Gamble vs. United States (No. 17–646) on July 17 in which the Court declined to put an end to state and federal prosecutors punishing individuals twice for the same crime. In its 7-2 decision, the Court declined to overturn the dual-sovereignty doctrine. While the … Read moreDual Sovereignty Reigns Over Double Jeopardy | Gamble vs. United States (2019)
Updated: July 22, 2019 Here are the changes you need to be aware of from the 86th legislative session in Texas. Most of these changes take effect on September 1, 2019. This article will be periodically updated with more changes to criminal laws that are going into effect in the coming months.2019 Legislative Update – Criminal … Read more2019 Criminal Law Update | 86th Legislative Session Texas
Does Accident + Felony DWI = Deadly Weapon In Couthren v. State, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals held a person accused of felony driving while intoxicated may only be charged with using a motor vehicle as a deadly weapon if the manner in which the defendant was driving could cause death or serious bodily injury. … Read moreDoes a DWI Felony + Wreck = Deadly Weapon Finding?
DWI Second Offense | DWI Misdemeanor Repetition in Texas Quick Navigation DWI Second Offense | DWI Misdemeanor Repetition in TexasJail as a Condition of Probation on a DWI Second in TexasOther Conditions of Probation of DWI Second in TexasBond Conditions of DWI Second in TexasFines for DWI Second in TexasLicense Surcharges for DWI Second Convictions … Read moreWhy do DWI second charges require jail time for probated sentences?
In the past months, hundreds of inmates have been released early from federal prison. Some of the released prisoners were elderly or ill, but most were just non-violent offenders who have exhibited good behavior behind bars. They are the early beneficiaries of the First Step Act, a new law aimed at ending mass incarceration, reducing … Read moreThe First Step Act: What You Need to Know
When do the police need a warrant to search blood in intoxication cases?The Court of Criminal Appeals handed down State v. Martinez, answering whether the State’s testing of blood previously drawn by hospital personnel for medical purposes constitutes a search under the Fourth Amendment. Quick Navigation When do the police need a warrant to search blood … Read moreWarrant Required for Law Enforcement to Test Blood Drawn for Medical Purposes
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals recently went to great lengths to explain how it came to decision with a different result than the United States Supreme Court in Carpenter v. U.S. In Sims v. State, the Court of Criminal Appeals determined a search warrant was not required when using real-time cell site location information (CSLI) … Read moreSims v. State: Can police obtain real-time cell site location without warrant?