Most people have a general awareness that they have a constitutional protection against “unreasonable” searches and seizures by law enforcement officers – especially when they’re in their homes. However, things can get a little fuzzy when a person is out walking...
Seeking Solutions As Diverse And Unique As Our Clients
Criminal Defense
Fleeing from the police could soon be a felony in Alabama
What do you do when a police officer either calls out for you to stop moving or pulls up behind your vehicle and flashes its lights? Most people probably will stop – but not everybody. Some people panic and run or drive off for no clear reason at all, probably simply...
Understanding how plea bargains work
Many criminal cases do not end up going to trial. Instead, a fairly common resolution is the plea bargain. Here, the person facing criminal charges (the defendant) reaches a deal with the prosecution to plead guilty to some or all of the charges against them in return...
When is evidence legally considered to be in “plain view?”
The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects people from “unreasonable” search and seizure. In most cases, unless they’re given permission to enter, law enforcement officers need a search warrant to look around and take potential evidence from a person’s...
How serious are theft crimes in Alabama?
All states look harshly at theft crimes, but Alabama has some of the strictest theft laws in the country. Defendants face penalties ranging from a few hundred dollars in fines to years or decades in jail. Those arrested for theft crimes need to take their situation...
Explaining the “felony-murder rule” in Alabama
There’s a lot of controversy around something called the “felony-murder rule.” Some states have revised their laws considerably but have kept some form of it on the books. Essentially, the rule states that if someone dies during the commission of a felony (including...
Could you face shoplifting charges after the fact?
Generally speaking, those who are charged with shoplifting are people who have been caught with merchandise as they tried to leave the store. Maybe they put something in their pocket and then tried to walk out past the cashier without paying. Maybe they put something...
Can the police look in your trash can?
The police need a warrant to search your house, or they need your consent to do so. Without it, even if they suspect they may find evidence in your house, they're not allowed to enter. They have to show this reasonable suspicion to the judge and then be issued the...
The difference between dischargeable and non-dischargeable debt in bankruptcy
The Founders of our country knew that people would sometimes be overwhelmed by debt and be unable to escape it unaided. That is why they gave us the constitutional right to discharge some of our debts and start over. If you are considering filing for bankruptcy,...
3 mistakes to avoid after being charged with DUI
No person is perfect; we all make mistakes. However, how we respond to these mistakes dictates whether we learn from them and grow or wind up making their situation worse. For example, if you are facing driving under the influence (DUI) charges, your next steps matter...