Certified Criminal Trial Expert
Certified Criminal Trial Expert
Melissa Quintanilla v State – 3D22-2003 – 3rd DCA Miami Dade – He said/She Said He said/She said – reversed for improper state closing – bolstering officer proper investigation veteran officer He Said She Said He said/she said situations are…
5th DCA Scheurman v State 5D2023-2294 clay county 5th DCA muzzleloader rifle is antique and is not deadly weapon or firearm unless used in crime or used as weapon – VOP – possession of weapon – return of property Antique…
Fleeing and Eluding is a felony in Florida and carries mandatory penalties. Everyone has had the experience of being pulled over by the police, and the situation can quickly get out of hand if you are scared of the police,…
Florida’s new immigration law was passed by the Florida legislature and signed by Governor DeSantis yesterday February 13th, 2025. This law came about after some political in-fighting between Florida’s republican legislature and the republican governor, but the result is clear…
Florida’s new “Halo Law,” effective January 2025, creates a protective 25-foot buffer zone around law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical crews. You can figure out the purpose of this law from the title of the bill: SB 184: Impeding,…
One of the most important decisions you have in a criminal case is what plea to enter. It’s easy to sit back and watch someone else go to trial, but when many think about the potential risk in their own…
The first thing to look at when confronted with a drug case of any kind is to determine if the police acted lawfully in acquiring the evidence against you. The police need to justify any detention of a person as…
The closest most people will ever get to a real criminal trial is tuning into an episode of Law and Order or Matlock. Even for people who have been accused of crimes a small minority actually make it all the…
Every criminal practitioner in Florida should be well aware that if the police claim they smell marijuana from you or your car, they are going to conduct a search, and Florida Court’s will back up the legality of that search.…
Face-to-Face Witnesses vs Zoom – Did The COVID Pandemic Change The Courtroom? Some say the pandemic changed the way many Americans think about work, business, and even social interactions, usually for the worse. We look down at our phones when…
Think the police need to see a traffic infraction to stop you? You’re wrong. Police ‘welfare checks’ are legal in Florida. What are ‘Welfare Checks’? For every rule in the criminal law there is an exception, and here that rule…
On October 16th the 2nd DCA made it clear that if the police want your blood after a traffic crash, they need to get busy or have a good reason why they didn’t. (State v Harris 2D2023-1430) When can police take…