Criminal Defense
Gideon v. Wainwright: Why is it important?
If you are arrested and face criminal charges, it is your right to have an attorney represent you. But what if you cannot afford legal representation? Read on to find out more about how one Supreme Court case changed how defendants’ rights are upheld. Background and Supreme Court case In 1963, the Supreme Court heard…
Read MoreWhat is Self-incrimination and Why Does it Matter?
You might have heard the phrase “I plead the Fifth,” but what does that actually mean? It’s in reference to your Fifth Amendment rights and when spoken, usually regards an important legal safeguard known as the right against self-incrimination. Self-incrimination definition Self-incrimination means to implicate oneself in a crime or exposing oneself to criminal prosecution.…
Read MoreWhat Are Miranda Rights and Why Are They Important?
You’ve probably heard this phrase in countless movies and TV shows: “You have the right to remain silent.” That’s the first line of your Miranda Rights — and thanks to a Supreme Court ruling, you have more than just the right to remain silent. New York criminal defense lawyer, Julie Rendelman defines what your Miranda…
Read MoreWhat is double jeopardy, and why is it important?
If you’ve seen any legal television drama, you’ve probably heard the term “double jeopardy” thrown around. Read on to find out what it means (it’s not a game show!) and why it’s important. Double jeopardy definition Double jeopardy means that no one can be charged and face prosecution for the same offense more than once…
Read MoreTypes of Dismissals of A Misdemeanor in NYC
There are many ways for a case to be resolved and enable you to walk away with no criminal record. The case may be dismissed, dropped, or adjourned in contemplation of dismissal. While each of these outcomes has a slightly different meaning, each of them will mean you’re not going to jail and you will…
Read MoreUnderstanding New York’s Zero Tolerance Law
The BAC for adults is 0.08%. If you’re a minor in New York and you get behind the wheel of a car, you might be surprised to learn that your legal limit is much lower at 0.02%. The reason is the New York Zero Tolerance Law. Since it’s illegal for people under the age…
Read MoreCan You Get a DWI in a Parked Car in NYC?
Everyone’s talking about a slow, cautious reopening these days, even here in NYC. It’s not happening yet, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility that some New Yorkers will be congregating in bars again…even if they’ll be doing it six feet apart. So this means it’s a good time to go over some of…
Read MoreViolating Shelter-in-Place Orders Could Lead to Criminal Charges
Crime is going down in New York City and most everywhere else. Even hardened criminals don’t want to catch this virus. New York City is, of course, one of the epicenters of this pandemic. Yet this truth comes hand-in-hand with the fact that there’s a new crime to worry about: violating the PAUSE act. “PAUSE”…
Read MoreCan You Go to Jail for Giving a Prescription Drug to a Friend?
We’ve all been in this position: a friend is suffering from a terrible migraine or is in some other sort of pain. You were prescribed pain killers from the last time you had surgery but you never used them. Thinking you are being generous, you say, “Here, you can have one of these.” After all, you…
Read MoreWhat You Need to Know About Your 5th Amendment Rights
“I plead the 5th.” You’ve heard it plenty of times on television. “You have the right to remain silent.” You’ve heard that too. You’ve even read about it on this blog, whenever we’ve advised you to invoke your right to remain silent while in custody. But do you really understand your 5th amendment protections? If…
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