For many years, bonds in Tarrant County were set by municipal magistrates throughout the county. This meant individuals in different cities could receive vastly different bond amounts based on where they were arrested and which magistrate was on duty at the time. The process had its advantages – bonds were set quickly, and the bond amounts could be addressed again by a … Read moreTarrant County Central Magistration
In a recent 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court held that police generally need a search warrant to gain access to your cellphone’s location information. Specifically, in Carpenter v. United States, the Court noted allowing the police to access minute-to-minute location information is the type of surveillance the Constitution’s framers sought to protect against without … Read moreSupreme Court: Warrant Required to Access Cell Site Location Information
Collins v. Virginia In an 8-1 decision, the Supreme Court decided that the automobile exception does not allow police to enter the curtilage of home to search a parked vehicle. In Collins v. Virginia, the Supreme Court addressed a case where officers conducted a search of a parked vehicle that was believed to be stolen. … Read moreCollins v. Virgina Limits the Fourth Amendment Automobile Exception
Is a Prior DWI Conviction an Element of a DWI Misdemeanor Repetition Offense or is it a Punishment Issue? The Court of Criminal Appeals has ruled that for purposes of misdemeanor DWIs, the fact that a person has been previously convicted of one DWI is an issue to be reserved for punishment and is not … Read moreMisdemeanor DWI Enhancement for Repeat Offense: Punishment Issue
What is the Criminal Statute of Limitations in Texas? The statute of limitations for a criminal case refers to how long prosecutors have to bring a case against a person. The statute of limitations vary for different offenses and are laid out in Article 12 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. By setting statute of … Read moreCriminal Statute of Limitations in Texas
The Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May 2018 in Murphy v. NCAA, holding that PASPA “regulate[s] state governments’ regulation of their citizens,” which is not a power given to congress by the Constitution. As a win for New Jersey and other states seeking to engage in sports betting, … Read moreSupreme Court Ruling Allows States to Legalize Sports Betting
What is the punishment for bringing a gun into an airport? Picture this: You’re standing in the security line at the airport. You’re late for your flight, the line is long, your phone is ringing and you’ve got less than 30 minutes to be in your seat for takeoff. The last thing on your mind … Read moreUnlawful Carry of Weapon – Prohibited Place | Gun in Airport
Let’s face it. When it comes to DWI, there are a lot of myths, misconceptions, half-truths, and exaggerations. Because it’s such a common charge, everyone seems to have a DWI story – or knows someone who does. This has contributed to the spread of a lot of inaccurate information over the years. So how do … Read more101 DWI Facts – Plus 15 Actionable Tips to Avoid a DWI