Category Archives: Criminal Defense
Federal Government Pressed On Legal Status of Marijuana & Related Products
In late May, a Federal appeals court reinstated the case brought against the federal government concerning the Schedule I status of marijuana. Plaintiffs argue that marijuana continuing to be regulated as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act risks their health and perpetuates economic inequities. Meanwhile, in response to the New York… Read More »
Will New York Make It Illegal to Walk & Use Cell Phone at The Same Time?
New York state lawmakers are considering passing legislation that would make it a crime to text and walk at the same time in New York. Specifically, the bill would make it illegal for people to cross the street while looking at (“viewing”) their “portable electronic devices”; even though there is no real evidence indicating… Read More »
New Jersey Finalizes New Criminal Penalties for A Number of Crimes Committed Against Animals
In mid-May, new jersey governor Phil Murphy signed several bills into law that impose new and additional criminal penalties for crimes committed against animals in New Jersey. These laws involve a number of issues, ranging from outdoor shelter, tethering restrictions, animal seized from dogfighting activities, and the ability for law-enforcement to intervene in order… Read More »
U.S. Defense Department Announces That It Will Make Sexual Harassment a Crime
On May 2, the Defense Department announced that it will now make sexual harassment a criminal offense in an effort to stop the scourge of sexual assault and abuse that has been reported within the department. Department of Defense Definitions In the military,sexual harassment is defined as unwanted sexual approaches directed towards a coworker… Read More »
New Study Indicates That New York Is A Hotbed for Illegal Gambling & Arrests
According to a new study, New Yorkers make more illegal bets than individuals in any other state, making New York number one for illegal gambling operations. New York was also ranked 12th for people arrested over illegal gambling operations. The Law in New York New York law declares gambling to occur when someone engages… Read More »
“Blame My Brain”: Criminal Defendant’s Trial Involving Genetic Mutation to Explain Crime Could Set Groundbreaking Precedent
A criminal case currently in front of the New Mexico Supreme Court could accelerate an important trend in the criminal justice system of using behavioral genetics and other neuroscience to try to explain why people break the law and raise questions as to the severity of their punishment. The defendant– Anthony Blas Yepez—is on… Read More »
New York Judge Closes Weinstein Hearing to Media & Public, Citing Concerns Over Defendant’s Right to a Fair Trial
In late April, New York State Supreme Court Justice James Burke made an important decision concerning allowing highly inflammatory evidence into Harvey Weinstein‘s criminal trial. Specifically, Judge Burke found that allowing in the evidence that prosecutors wanted in the form of a trial open to the public and media would place Weinstein’s Sixth Amendment… Read More »
New York Blocks Ability for Federal Officials to Arrest Immigrants in State Courthouses Without Warrants
In a huge win for immigrants and their families, on April 17, the New York State Office of Court Administration issued new rules which block the ability of federal immigration officials (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or “ICE”) to arrest immigrants in New York state courthouses without federal judicial warrants. The rules have a… Read More »
Understanding The Federal Crimes Addressed in The Mueller Report
The Mueller report was released to the public on April 18, and left a number of Americans completely baffled as to whether the President and those who worked on his campaign committed any federal crimes, including obstruction of justice. Below, we discuss some of the federal crimes and potential charges addressed in the report:… Read More »
It’s Time To Stop Relying On AI-Based Crime Tools, For The Sake Of Civil Rights
Slowly but surely, more and more police departments are realizing that they must stop using algorithmic-based programs to identify who is most likely to commit violent crimes. These programs have long been a means of labeling people as “chronic offenders“; more as a reflection of personal opinion than actual science; and they have not… Read More »