Big Meech Searches for Clemency
Petition to Commute or Lower Sentence for Big Meech In 2005, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) began indicting members of the Black Mafia Family (BMF) in connection with a multi-state drug distribution ring, targeting over 150 members of the gang. Having strong connections with Mexican based cartels, the group is alleged to have laundered over […]
Deathrow Inmate Loses Appeal But State Is Not Yet Equipped to Execute Him
Convicted Nebraska cult killer Michael Ryan recently lost his appeal to stay his execution. As a Nebraska appeals attorney discusses, despite this loss, the state is still not ready to execute him. The Facts Leading Up to Ryan’s ConvictionMichael Ryan was convicted of the brutal torture and murder of James Thimm in 1985. Ryan, a cult […]
U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Reinstate Arizona Law Criminalizing the Harbor of Illegal Immigrants
Arizona’s 2010 Immigration Law has sparked controversy ever since it was enacted. As a federal appeals lawyer explains, the U.S. Supreme Court has weighed in on a particularly controversial provision that made it illegal to harbor illegal immigrants. The Background of Arizona’s Immigration ReformArizona has been a bellwether state in terms of immigration reform. In […]
Post-Conviction Relief – Why a Guilty Verdict Doesnt Mean the Fight is Over
Step one: Find someone who will fight for you. A guilty verdict at trial seems like the end of what has likely been a long, and difficult process. The period awaiting trial may feel interminable; what happens after is sometimes a longer road with even more unknowns. But there is sometimes post-conviction relief. The American […]
Defendant Appeals 2013 Conviction of 1950s Murder
An appeal was recently filed in the murder case involving victim Maria Ridulph. John Daniel McCollough was convicted in 2012 of the 1957 slaying, making it one of the oldest cold cases ever prosecuted. An Illinois appeals attorney can explain the basic facts and basis for the appeal. The Basic Facts of the CaseIn 1957 […]
Convicted Penn State Assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky Loses Latest Appeal
A Pennsylvania appellate court has denied former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky’s latest appeal. Sandusky was convicted of multiple counts of sexual assault and related charges in 2012 in a case that resulted in the ousting of legendary football coach, Joe Paterno. A Pennsylvania Criminal Appeals Attorney Reviews the Facts of the CaseFormer Penn State assistant coach […]
The NFL Drafts First Openly Gay Player
This past weekend marked a new age for the National Football League when the St. Louis Rams selected Michael Sam, a defensive end out of the University of Missouri as the 249th overall pick. Sam, the first openly gay player to enter the league, came out to the public in the months leading up to […]
3 Reasons Why Florida Property Owners Need Title Insurance
Talking with an expert can really help. If you’ve never purchased a home or other property before, the learning curve can seem overwhelmingly steep. There are forms to sign, authorizations to give, and a seemingly never ending list of questions to answer. Florida title insurance is one of those confusing elements of buying property, but […]
How a Conflict of State and Local Laws Can Muddy Open Carry Laws
While Texas law allows citizens to openly carry firearms, local law can sometimes conflict. A Texas appeal attorney can discuss how these laws are applied and how this conflict may have been the root of one man’s recent controversial run-in with law enforcement. A Texas Federal Appeals Attorney Discusses Texas’s Open Carry LawTexas is one […]
Federal Ruling Keeps Ohio’s Ban on Same-Sex Marriage In Play For Now
State and federal courts have ping-ponged the issue of state same-sex marriage bans in recent months. As an Ohio appeals attorney can explain, Ohio’s ban on same-sex marriage will stay in effect at least for the time being. An Ohio Federal Appeals Attorney Discusses Ohio’s Same-Sex Marriage BanOhio’s current law prohibits the state from recognizing marriages […]