When a criminal charge depends on whether a particular substance fits a statutory definition, the exact wording of the law can decide the entire case. That i…
How Florida Courts Read a Statute’s Words: A Drug-Definition Dispute Explained Read More »
When someone is on trial for a serious crime, the case often turns on what the evidence actually proves versus what a jury is simply guessing about. That dif…
Florida Court Rejects Stacked Inferences as Proof Read More »
Before a criminal case can go to trial, the law requires that the person facing charges be able to understand what is happening and help in their own defense…
When a Court Must Pause a Trial to Decide If a Defendant Is Competent Read More »
When someone is convicted of a crime, the fairness of the trial depends on rules that both sides must follow. Two of those rules came together in a recent ca…
People on felony probation who violate their conditions can face serious consequences, including a return to prison. Florida law also puts some probationers…
When someone is sentenced in more than one criminal case, a basic question follows: do the prison terms run at the same time, or one after the other? The ans…
How Florida Handles Consecutive Sentences for Separate Cases Read More »
Criminal trials often turn on evidence that is indirect. Prosecutors do not always have an eyewitness who saw everything happen. Instead, they may rely on a…
When someone is sentenced in a criminal case, the amount of time they already spent in jail before sentencing usually counts toward their sentence. That amou…
How Florida Handles Requests to Correct Jail-Time Credit After Sentencing Read More »
When someone is charged with a crime, they typically have two basic choices about representation: hire or accept a lawyer, or represent themselves. What ofte…
Why Courts Usually Won’t Accept Filings From a Defendant Who Already Has a Lawyer Read More »
When someone believes they are being held in custody improperly, one tool they may try to use is a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. But filing a petitio…
