Recent Blog Posts
Were You Arrested in South Florida? Four Tips to Help You Protect Your Professional License
In Florida, many professionals are required to obtain and maintain a license from the state in order to practice. Occupational licenses are increasingly common in our country. According to data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nearly 25 percent of all American workers hold an occupational license. From lawyers and doctors to… Read More »
What Should I Do if I Have Received a Subpoena in a Criminal Case?
A subpoena is a document issued by a court of law that orders a person to provide relevant information. You may receive a subpoena that asks you for certain documents or evidence related to a criminal case, or you may receive a subpoena that asks you to give on-the-record testimony. As you may have… Read More »
Clearwater, Florida ‘Stand Your Ground’ Shooter Arrested, Charged With Manslaughter
In July, a man named Michael Drejka shot and killed another man after a dispute in a parking lot in Clearwater, Florida. A video of the incident soon went viral and the shooting ignited a national debate as the Pinellas County Sheriff announced that he did not have the authority to arrest Mr. Drejka… Read More »
Report: DUI Arrests are Plummeting in South Florida
According to reporting from the Miami Herald, the number of drunk driving arrests in South Florida has dropped precipitously over the past few years. From 2013 to 2017, the number of DUI arrests made by the Miami-Dade Police Department fell by an astonishing 65 percent. Over the same time period, the number of drunk… Read More »
South Florida Doctor Arrested for Prescription Drug Fraud
On July 25th, 2018, the Miami Herald reported that Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have announced the shutdown of an alleged prescription drug “pill mill” in South Florida. According to a news release from the Florida Office of the Attorney General, doctor Armando Falcon operated a… Read More »
Lawsuit Challenges ‘Marsy’s Law’ Inclusion on Florida Ballot
Recently, the Pensacola News Journal reported that a lawsuit has been violated challenging the inclusion of ‘Marsy’s Law’ on this November’s Florida state ballot. This is a controversial ballot initiative that is sometimes referred to as the ‘Victims’ Bill of Rights Act’ by its supporters. In this article, our experienced Miami criminal lawyers provide… Read More »
New Study: Jury Trials are Increasingly Rare in Criminal Cases
According to reporting from the Center on Crime and Justice at John Jay College, new research has demonstrated that jury trials are becoming far less common in criminal cases. In a recent study, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) found that only three percent of criminal cases go before a jury. This… Read More »
Fourth Amendment Watch: Supreme Court Cracks Down on Warrantless Digital Snooping
On June 22nd, 2018, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a long-awaited opinion in the case of Carpenter v. United States. In a landmark 5 to 4 ruling, the nation’s highest court ruled that the government’s acquisition of cell tower records amounts to a search for the purposes of the Fourth Amendment,… Read More »
Miami DUI Refusal: What You Need to Know About the Law
Drivers who are stopped for suspected drunk driving in South Florida can expect to be asked to submit to a breath test or blood test. If you fail to submit to DUI test, you will almost certainly be arrested. Florida has an implied consent law on the books. If you are asked to submit… Read More »
College Students: Could an Arrest Cost You Your Financial Aid?
If you or your college student has been arrested, it is crucial that you seek professional guidance. Under current state and federal regulations, a person’s eligibility for certain types of financial aid could be affected by a criminal conviction. Financial aid eligibility is an important consideration for college students who are facing criminal charges… Read More »
Federal Prosecutors Accuse South Florida Police Officers of Framing 16-Year-Old
On June 13th, 2018, National Public Radio (NPR) published a shocking story that came out of the South Florida town of Biscayne Park. With just over 3,000 people, it is not often that the this small Miami-Dade County community makes national headlines. Unfortunately, the headlines in this case are not good. According to federal… Read More »
Florida Probation Violations: Explained
Under Florida law, a defendant can be charged with a violation of their probation (VOP) if they are deemed to have willfully violated the conditions of their sentence. Probation violation cases are notoriously complex: these cases differ substantially from other criminal law proceedings. There is a lower standard of proof, and some of the… Read More »
Fourteen South Florida Residents Charged in Massive Computer Fraud Case
On May 31st, 2018, the Miami Herald reported on a recent federal court indictment. Fourteen South Florida residents are among the seventeen people that have been charged in a $25 million computer fraud scheme. Mostly residents of Palm Beach County and Broward County, the co-conspirators have been charged with a variety of wire fraud… Read More »
Study: Many Jurors Fail to Grant Defendants a Presumption of Innocence
Under American criminal law, defendants are innocent until they are proven guilty. You have probably heard this phrase many times before; most people are familiar with the general concept. In a criminal court, the prosecution has the legal burden of presenting evidence to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This is one… Read More »
Florida Criminal Law Watch: Orlando Area Prosecutors Will Not Seek Monetary Bail for Certain Crimes
On March 16th, 2018, the Miami Herald reported on an important story originating out of Central Florida. Prosecutors in Orange County and Osceola County will no longer seek cash bail for certain minor crimes. This is an incredibly important step that will help make our justice system more fair to criminal defendants of all… Read More »
Large Drug Bust Reported in Southwest Florida
On May 4th, 2018, WFLA News Channel 8 reported that 77 people have been arrested in a massive drug trafficking bust in Sarasota County, Florida. The Sheriff’s Office labeled the arrest a part of ‘Operation Spring Cleaning’. According to law enforcement officials, this operation was focused on breaking up the manufacturing and trafficking of… Read More »
Supreme Court of Florida Clarifies State Criminal Procedure on Statute of Limitations Defenses
On April 12th, 2018, the Supreme Court of Florida issued a decision in the case of State of Florida v. Earvin Smith. The primary issue at stake in this case was: Must criminal defendants raise the possibility of a statute of limitations defense at their initial trial in order to preserve that issue for… Read More »
Americans are Increasingly Concerned About Over-Incarceration
The United States has a higher rate of incarceration than any other country on earth. The Prison Policy Initiative reports that the American incarceration rate is approximately 693 per 100,000 residents. Not only is this far above the global average, it is far above the second highest rate. The only other countries that have… Read More »
Former Florida Football Star Sentenced to More Than 20 Years in Prison for Healthcare Fraud
On April 16th, 2018, the Miami Herald reported that Monty Grow, a former football star who played at the University of Florida and for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in leading a complex healthcare fraud scheme. The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges that… Read More »
Know Your Rights: Can Florida Police Search Your Cell Phone?
Your smartphone carries an enormous amount of sensitive information about you and your life. If you have been arrested or detained by a Florida police officer, they may want to look through your phone. However, you have a legal right to keep your phone and its contents free from an unreasonable search. Florida police… Read More »
