There is an old trope in film and television about pleading “insanity” to go free from a murder case. In Maryland, claiming that a client is “not criminally responsible” is a tough row to hoe, and it is not used all that often. Which is why the murder case of Tyrique Hudson, and the subsequent ruling of Circuit Judge Michael Wachs, turned out to be quite different than expected. The Capital Gazette reports that James [...]
Most people take for granted that they can just hop into our car and get from one place to the other. Certain medical conditions, however, may bar certain individuals from doing that, because those conditions (or prescribed medications) make driving unsafe. However, a sudden medical emergency is often unexpected. A heart attack, a stroke, a dangerous rise or drop in blood pressure: each of these can occur without warning. If they happen in a car, [...]
Maryland lawmakers have increased the severity and penalties for charge of strangulation, making it a felony crime instead of a misdemeanor. This change coincided with Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you have been charged with strangulation, you will face a tougher battle to retain your rights and freedoms. A special unit at Frederick Health Hospital is tasked with helping to investigate by evaluating potential victims of domestic violence and the injuries they’ve sustained. The findings [...]
Photo Credit: Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP On August 28, 2020, actor Chadwick Boseman, best known for the blockbuster movie “Black Panther,” died of colon cancer at age forty-three. His death came as a shock to fans and the general public, due to his young age and the fact that he kept his illness and medical treatments private. Shortly before his death, Boseman married his longtime girlfriend, Taylor Simone Ledward, leaving behind an estate valued [...]
The Constitution of the United States delineates areas of jurisdiction within the nation, allotting certain obligations and rights to both the federal government and state governments. Jurisdiction involves a court’s power to hear and adjudicate cases. Under criminal law, the imposition of punishment is connected with the proper jurisdiction. If a court does not have jurisdiction, any convictions are sentences issued by that court are not enforceable. Each of the 50 states has its own [...]
Expungement is the action of the state to remove a police or court record of an individual from public view and inspection. Expungement may involve the relocation of the record to a secure area to prevent individuals who have no right to see the record from seeing it, or it may involve the destruction of the record altogether. Under certain circumstances, Maryland law allows someone with a juvenile record of delinquency to seek expungement of [...]
When you get pulled over for DUI in Maryland, the police officer will likely ask you to step out of the car and perform a series of field sobriety tests. He or she may also ask you to breathe into a little machine. Then, if you are taken to the police station, you may be asked to breathe into a completely different machine. This is because in Maryland, drivers suspected of being under the influence [...]
In order to be subjected to a search, police need probable cause; otherwise, it is a violation of the Fourth Amendment. For years, law enforcement officers in Maryland have used the odor of marijuana as their probable cause to search someone. The Maryland Court of Appeals issued another ruling recently that puts an end to this practice. Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera authored the unanimous ruling, which said in part: In order to lawfully arrest [...]
Back in early May, the U.S. Department of Education issued a series of new standards that govern how educational institutions are to implement Title IX. These revamped regulations are a complete overhaul from the previous administration’s regulations as it concerns policies and procedures about sexual assault and harassment allegations. Universities and other institutions of learning are placed under a different set of responsibilities when handling these claims. In 1973, Title IX was instituted. The law [...]
Driving under the influence is a serious criminal charge. If convicted, individuals face significant fines, loss of driving privileges, and time spent in jail. The seriousness with which the state of Maryland considers these offenses is reflected in its recent announcement – through the Department of Transportation in the state – that it will participate in a Learning Collaborative designed to tackle the problem of drunk driving statewide and reduce its occurrence. The state of [...]
