Facing Federal Sentencing? What Happens Before the Judge Decides Your Sentence

Federal sentencing is not just about the hearing date. The Sentencing Guidelines, Presentence Investigation Report, mitigation evidence, and written advocacy can all shape the final result When someone is facing federal sentencing, it is easy to focus on one thing: sentencing day. But much of the work that can affect a federal sentence happens weeks […]

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What Really Happens During Jury Selection in a Criminal Case?

Jury selection is not about finding jurors who “like” the defendant. It is about identifying people who can follow the law, keep an open mind, and hold the prosecution to its burden of proof. If you have never been through a criminal trial, you may picture jury selection the way it appears on television: lawyers […]

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I Want to See the Evidence, Not Just the Police Report

When I receive discovery in a criminal case, the police report is important, but I don’t treat it as the final word on what happened. A police report is written from the perspective of the investigation. In my experience, information that supports the government’s theory tends to make its way into that report. Information that […]

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A Criminal Case Is About More Than What Happened on One Bad Day

When I first get a criminal case, much of what I receive is about one particular event. The police report tells me what allegedly happened. Witness statements tell me what people say they saw. Videos may show part or all of the incident. Eventually, I need to understand all of that evidence because I can’t […]

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How Can I Get My Firearm Rights Restored in Alabama?

Alabama law prohibits firearm possession for people who fall into specific categories, and the list is more nuanced than many people assume. Under current Alabama law, the prohibited categories include certain defendants who have been convicted of any felony within the previous five years, have three or more felony convictions arising from separate charges, have […]

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My Client Gets to Make the Final Decision

One of the hardest parts of being a criminal defense lawyer is helping someone make a decision when there may not be a clearly right answer. I can review the discovery, investigate the case, talk to witnesses, evaluate the law and give my client my opinion about what I think he should do. Sometimes I […]

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Can a Juvenile Be Questioned by Police Without a Parent Present in Alabama?

Finding out that your child was questioned by the police without you being there is something no parent expects. It raises serious concerns about whether your child’s rights were respected and whether anything they said could be used against them later as a criminal defendant.  The short answer is that Alabama law allows police to […]

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What You Should Know About Criminal Charges for Marijuana Possession in Birmingham, AL

While marijuana laws have loosened in many parts of the country, Alabama still treats possession as a serious criminal offense. Under state law, a conviction can potentially lead to time in jail on top of fines and other consequences. If you are facing charges in Birmingham, learning about what the law says and what options […]

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What I’m Looking for When I Review the Evidence Against My Client

One of the first things clients want after hiring me is the discovery. Sometimes they expect that because they hired a lawyer today, I should have all of the evidence in the case tomorrow. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. What we receive and when we receive it can vary considerably depending on where the […]

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What To Do and Not To Do During a DUI Stop in Alabama

If police pull you over for suspected DUI in Alabama, what you say and do during the stop may later be used as evidence. An officer may ask about alcohol consumption, request field sobriety tests, search for evidence, or ask you to take a breath test. Drivers have legal obligations during a traffic stop, but […]

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