The Maryland Supreme Court’s last opinion of 2022, Carver v. State, 482 Md. 469 (2022) (Hotten, J.) (Gould, J., dissenting), analyzed the cumulative impact of newly discovered evidence and held that the newly discovered evidence did not “speak to” petitioner’s...
“The Defense Never Rests.”
Criminal Defense
4 ways to prepare for a criminal trial
Many criminal cases never go to trial. If you face a different situation, you have a complex road ahead. Knowing that Maryland circuit court judges deal with thousands of cases every year, you likely have to wait months to finally get your day in court. As the date...
What does it mean to voluntarily and knowingly accept a plea?
There are thousands of criminal prosecutions in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., every single year. This means court dockets can become almost overwhelming. Still, the U.S. Constitution guarantees most criminal defendants speedy trials. Plea deals are one...
3 things to know before giving a genealogical DNA sample
Like many Americans, you may have found yourself curious about exploring your genealogy through one of the several DNA testing services currently available. You may also assume that the company will keep your information secure and private. However, once you have...
What do prosecutors do with touch DNA?
Even though there are plenty of people in jails and prisons in the U.S., it is not necessarily easy for prosecutors to secure convictions. Before even bringing criminal charges against a defendant, most prosecutors have to be certain they have compelling evidence....
Rereading Washington v. State after Tyre Nichols’ Homicide
A week ago, I wrote about Tyrie Washington v. State of Maryland, a decision by the Supreme Court of Maryland filed on December 19, 2022, which held that unprovoked flight in a high-crime neighborhood provides reasonable articulable suspicion to conduct a Terry stop....
“headlong flight” 6-1 decision by Maryland’s Supreme Court that draws sharp dissent from Justice Hotten about practical realities of flight in Baltimore.
On December 19, 2022, the Supreme Court of Maryland filed Washington v. State, No. 15, September Term, 2022, addressing whether unprovoked flight in a high-crime neighborhood adds to the reasonable articulable suspicion necessary to detain a person under the Fourth...
Why should you understand your Miranda rights?
Many people have heard of their Miranda rights due to the popular trope in movies and shows featuring police officers. However, you may not actually understand how your Miranda rights work. You may not know the purpose of these rights in real life, or what giving up...
When is pleading guilty not a good idea?
If you are facing criminal charges, you are probably ready to put them behind you. While there certainly is nothing wrong with wanting to move on with your life, you do not want to do anything to make matters worse for yourself. Unfortunately, prematurely accepting a...
The difference between robbery and burglary
Regarding theft crimes in Washington D.C., specific actions can fall under either a violent crime or a property crime. In general usage, people use the terms robbery and burglary interchangeably. In the courts, though, these words have more specific meanings and come...