Posts by Joseph Carey
How Does an Ignition Interlock Device Work?
Accidents are more common—and more deadly—when alcohol is involved because it can slow down your reaction time, impair your muscle coordination, cause poor judgment, and more. Each of these factors on their own make it dangerous to operate a vehicle, but all of them combined can make it deadly. Accidents caused by drunk drivers are…
Read MoreYes, You Should Wear a Suit to Court (and Other Helpful Tips)
It can be very intimidating going to your first court hearing and you may be worried about what to do and what to say. When you appear in court in Maryland, it is important to present yourself in a way that gives the judge or jury a good impression—and it does play a factor in…
Read MoreCan You Claim Self-Defense in a Bar Fight?
We see it in TV shows and movies all the time: if someone starts a fight with someone else, that person hits the first one and then says it was all in self-defense. When the police arrive, the person who started the fight is the one that gets in trouble. Despite many people trying to…
Read MoreWhat Is a “Special Counsel,” Anyway?
You may have been seeing in the news that there was recently a special counsel appointed to a case regarding President Joe Biden. We thought this was a good opportunity to talk about what a special counsel is, what they do, and why they are important to a case. A special counsel is an attorney…
Read MoreIs It Worth It to Fight a DUI/DWI Charge?
Yes – it’s always worth it to fight a DUI. Generally, you should always contest a driving under the influence (DUI) or a driving while impaired (DWI) charge at the start. This means that you should call our law office as soon as possible so we can explain all your rights, defenses, and options. It’s…
Read MoreCriminal Charges Arising from Fatal DUI and DWIs
Most drunk drivers are pulled off the road by a police officer before the drivers cause any accidents. There are many times, though, when the police arrest someone for drunk driving after the driver caused an accident. The police are usually likely to arrest an intoxicated driver who causes a fatality – another driver, a…
Read MoreCan Your Text Messages Be Used Against You in Court?
The saying, “Anything you say can be used against in a court of law,” given when anyone is arrested (as part of the Miranda warnings) is also good advice for any texts you send. Any texts that you write, even if you try to delete them, before or after an arrest may also be used…
Read MoreMaryland Approved Recreational Marijuana. Now What?
Possession of small amounts of marijuana used to be illegal in Maryland. The good news is that voters in the November 2022 election decided that enough was enough, approving a ballot question to make it legal for adults 21 and over to possess, smoke, and grow recreational marijuana. The ballot initiative applies to the possession…
Read MoreMaryland’s 10-Year Prison Sentence for Repeat DUI Offenders
Driving under the influence is a serious crime that comes with serious penalties especially if it’s more than your first offense. Driving while intoxicated is not only a dangerous decision, but also one that can affect you for the rest of your life. From fines to jail time, to not being able to go to…
Read MoreHow Common Is Wrongful Conviction, Really?
With the exoneration of Adnan Syed making headlines, we are forced to contemplate how our judicial system could allow for an innocent man to be convicted of murder. We would like to think that everyone who is sentenced to years in prison is there because they deserve to be there for their wrongful and illegal…
Read MoreHow Do Expungements Work?
Many of us are familiar with pardons because of Thanksgiving. It has been tradition for over half a century for the president to “pardon” a turkey from becoming someone’s Thanksgiving dinner. We all understand that to mean that the turkey is being granted reprieve from its fate. Many folks are less familiar with record expungements.…
Read MoreWhat Is the “Shadow Docket”?
The United States is governed by a complex system of courts and branches that are meant to create laws in a fair and just manner through votes by local and state representatives. The Supreme Court is a part of our governmental branches that makes very important decisions that affect the entire country. It is reasonable…
Read MoreMarijuana Laws in Maryland in 2022
Different states have different rules for use and possession of medical marijuana and recreational marijuana. The differences can make it hard to understand your rights if you travel to different states for work, for pleasure, or to visit friends and family. Do you need to take your medical marijuana card with you? Does it matter…
Read MoreWhen Should Crimes Be Combined Under the Armed Career Criminal Act?
The Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA) is a federal law, passed in 1984, that increases the sentences for felons who commit crimes with firearms if they have three or more violent felony convictions or serious drug offenses. The Act provides that a defendant who meets the definitions under the Act receives a 15-year minimum prison…
Read MoreMaryland Court Rules Authorities Must Limit Cellphone Searches
In what’s being called a precedent-setting decision, Maryland’s highest court recently ruled that search warrants for cellphones and smartphones must be specific to the crime-related information being sought. What this means for individuals accused of crimes is that police and detectives can no longer search through the contents of an entire device, which often contains…
Read MoreWhat Happens After You’re Pulled Over for DUI?
A Maryland police officer who suspects that you are driving while intoxicated will likely flash the lights of their vehicle and/or sound the siren. Whether you’re on a highway or a local road, you will need to pull over to the shoulder or to any place where it is safe to stop. The officer will…
Read MoreMaryland’s Existing Gun Control Laws Are Officially Unconstitutional
The Supreme Court of the United States’ 6-3 ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen officially made at least one of Maryland’s gun laws unconstitutional. The ruling, which extended the rights granted under District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), allows law-abiding citizens to carry a handgun outside of the home for…
Read MoreCan States Criminalize Travel for Abortion Services?
Back in 2003, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, along with the advertising company R&R Partners, cooked up an ad campaign to rebrand Sin City. The campaign, called “What Happens Here, Stays Here,” is one of the most successful campaigns in advertising history. The commercials are funny, slick, and sexy, and rooted in one…
Read MoreDon’t Make These Mistakes If You’re Being Investigated for a Sex Crime
Sex crimes, like sexual assault and rape, are complex charges with severe penalties upon conviction. Even accusations can cause damage to all aspects of a person’s life and reputation, whether the person is convicted of the charges or not. The most important thing to do when facing sex crime charges is to remain calm, understand…
Read MoreCan I Get a DUI Expunged in Maryland?
If you have been charged and convicted with either driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while impaired (DWI) in Maryland, after you have served your time and paid your penalties, you are likely eager to put it all behind you. As part of the process of moving past this period of your life, you…
Read MoreUsing Man’s Best Friend as a Dangerous Weapon
The term “deadly weapon” typically makes individuals think of a gun or knife, or an inanimate object that can be used to cause harm. However, recently two men allegedly used a dog as a way to attack and rob a man. According to CBS News, two men and a dog approached an unarmed man and…
Read MoreCan I Go to Prison for Sharing My Prescription Drugs?
Prescription drugs are intended for use by which only the person they are prescribed. However, sometimes that person shares their medication with another. This act brings the question of whether a person can go to prison for sharing prescription drugs. Many Maryland residents are under the impression that if they obtain medications from a relative,…
Read MoreAn Overview of Gun Possession by Prohibited Person Laws in Maryland
Here in Maryland, conviction of certain crimes bars an individual from gun and weapon possession. Typically these state laws are in line with federal gun control laws targeting ex-felons. However, a recent case out of the Maryland Court of Appeals demonstrates that our state’s gun control laws are even stronger than the federal government’s, a…
Read MoreA Problematic New Car Safety Feature
Each year, state and federal governments – along with grassroots activists and non-profits – look for ways to reduce the number of drunk drivers on the roads. They do this legislation, through tougher laws for DUI offenses, by setting up check stops, and more. The latest effort is a new piece of vehicle technology: alcohol…
Read MorePenalties for Drug Crimes Within School Zones
It is no secret that the United States has a prison problem. Prisons far too full, and the government spends no small amount of money housing prisoners. Thanks to the failed “War on Drugs,” there are people serving sentences of ten, twenty, even up to thirty years in prison for non-violent crimes. For many, these…
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