Criminal Defense

The relationship between marijuana odor and probable cause for a vehicle search in Florida has shifted significantly in recent years, and understanding the current legal landscape is important for anyone who encounters law enforcement on Florida’s roads. Florida voters approved recreational marijuana legalization through Amendment 3 in November 2024, and courts have since grappled with […]

A conviction does not necessarily end the legal fight. Florida law provides multiple avenues for challenging a conviction after the trial court proceedings are over — both through the direct appeal process and through postconviction motions that can be filed even after appeals are exhausted. Understanding the difference between these remedies, the deadlines that govern

Battery charges in Florida range from a first-degree misdemeanor all the way to a second-degree felony, depending on the circumstances of the alleged offense. The difference between simple battery, felony battery, and aggravated battery is not just a matter of degree — it determines whether you are facing up to one year in jail or

Florida classifies felony offenses into four levels of severity, each carrying a different maximum sentence and triggering different sentencing considerations. Whether a charge is a third-degree felony or a life felony is not just a label — it determines the range of punishment, how the offense is treated on the Criminal Punishment Code scoresheet, and

One of the most common misconceptions in Florida criminal law is that a victim can “press charges” or “drop charges” — as if the decision to prosecute belongs to the person who was allegedly harmed. It does not. In Florida, criminal charges are brought by the State of Florida, not by the victim, and the

A first DUI in Florida is a serious matter, but it does not have to define the rest of your life. Florida law imposes real penalties — including fines, a license revocation, and the possibility of probation or even jail — but there are also paths through a first offense that can minimize long-term consequences,

A probation violation in Florida is one of the most serious situations a person on supervision can face — and it is more common than most people expect. A single missed appointment, a failed drug test, or a new arrest can trigger a violation of probation proceeding that puts you at risk of serving time

Bond is how most people get out of jail after a Florida arrest — but the bond system is more complicated than most people realize. There are different types of bond, different hearings at which bond is set or can be challenged, and conditions of release that can significantly affect your life while your case

Florida’s Stand Your Ground law is widely discussed but frequently misunderstood — including by people who need to invoke it in court. Unlike the self-defense argument most people picture from television courtrooms, Stand Your Ground immunity in Florida is litigated at a pretrial hearing before a judge, not at trial before a jury. That hearing

A domestic battery arrest in Florida sets off a chain of events that moves faster than most people expect — and in ways that can surprise both the person who was arrested and the alleged victim. Florida law treats domestic violence cases differently from other criminal matters, with mandatory arrest requirements, no-drop prosecution policies, and