Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

No updates this weekend. I´m in Cancun.

Check back Tuesday.

I am a fan of the A&E show Intervention. It has a car wreck allure to it. The human misery, suffering, and (sometimes) redemption makes for great television.

Intervention shows the daily lives of drug addicts. At the end of the show the addict is suprised by an intervention and offered a chance to go to rehab. Most go to rehab and then we get a nice follow up to see if they kicked drugs.

Intervention is a great view into the drug subculture.

I am on probation. I received a speeding ticket about 6 weeks ago. Allegedly, I was doing over 80 in a 65. Unable to think of an affirmative defense (insanity?), I pled no contest and received deferred adjudication. If I complete my probation the ticket will be dismissed (but the county keeps the fine, around $230).

This used to not happen. When I was a prosecutor we had badges. Prosecutor badges in Texas range from impressive large badges (think “The Shield”), to small pathetic stars (Sheriff Woody in Toy Story). We also had car windshield stickers that identified us as members of the Texas prosecutors association.

I never got a ticket when I was a prosecutor. I was “lit up” a few times. I always got a warning. Cops would check my registration and see the sticker showing I was a prosecutor. My badge was in my wallet with my license. Upon seeing one of the other cops would inquire who I worked for. We would chat about how I should slow down or the best way to get somewhere and then I would be let go.

I am loathe to join the mass of presidential bloggers but this is too important.

Only Ron Paul has consistently voted against expanding the War on Drugs. He realizes that longer sentences and more enforcement are futile. Democrats should support this because minorities and lower income communities have been devistated by these policies. Republicans should support this because they are supposed to believe in smaller government and personal freedom.

Sadly, Ron Paul is alone in this issue.

No UNT law school in downtown Dallas, at least not for another two years. DFW will remain without a public law school and another chance to renovate downtown Dallas has passed.

Debate on the issue centered on the issue of how many lawyers Texas needs and which region of Texas needs a new law school.

Proponents of UNT law argued that Dallas needs more attorneys because Dallas currently imports lawyers from out of state law schools.

It’s amazing what little news the Supreme Court generates these days. As a criminal defense lawyer I have become used to the appellate courts backing police officers in questionable search or arrest situations (Atwater vs. Lago Vista).

Still the facts behind Los Angeles County vs. Rettele should shock even the most jaded criminal justice observer.

Police in LA County got a warrant to search a house for, get this… IDENTITY THEFT. Wow.. pretty scary stuff. Knocking before entry has been rendered uneccesary by the Supreme Court so the police break in unannounced.

Do rights matter if you don’t know about them?

In Texas defendants plead guilty every day without ever talking to a criminal defense lawyer. Prosecutors and judges love this because it moves the docket and keep costs down.

Cases with defense lawyers take longer because we actually explain things like;

A bill on red light cameras snuck out of the Texas house at the last minute.

Basically, cities can use red light cameras for the next two years, after that they must prove that the cameras have improved public safety. The NMA,National Motorist Association, notes that there are NO independent studies linking red light cameras to safety imrpovement. What the cameras do improve is Tax revenue. Faced with the loss of these Golden Geese I am 100% certain that every city will be able to “prove” that cameras improved public safety.

The speed traps of old are being replaced with digital cameras. I live in Ellis County and drive through a speed trap on I-45 every day. I hate speed traps, but at least you have an actual officer writing you a ticket. You could have a jury trial and cross examine the officer. Red light cameras offer no such due process. These are contracted out of 3rd parties whose only interest is making as much money as possible.

The Star Telegram has a good article on the proliferation of “grow houses” in the area.

It seems that even though Marijuana is illegal and we’ve spent millions catching, prosecuting, and incarcerating pot dealers and users- people still want to use it!

IWTS Truth- Making someting illegal never eliminates demand, it just changes the suppliers.