Yearly Archives: 2018
Classification of Crimes
Most criminal systems for states across the United States divide their crimes into several different categories depending on how serious they are. This categorization determines how the court system treats a particular case, so it is important to understand the differences. As a general rule, however, these crimes are differentiated by how much potential jail… Continue Reading »
HOV Cheaters Beware
As anyone who drives in Western Washington knows … traffic can be a real bear. It can often involve hours of sitting and lots of stop and go movement. Of course, this is the primary reason we have high-occupancy (HOV) lanes; HOV lanes are meant to provide a faster travel option by encouraging carpooling, vanpooling… Continue Reading »
Ways To Reverse a Conviction
Appeals judges generally defer to trial court findings, particularly findings of fact as opposed to matters of law. Courts rarely overturn lower court decisions and “perfect” trials are not guaranteed, although certain safeguards do exist in order to account for errors and oversights. An appellate court will overturn a guilty verdict only if the trial… Continue Reading »
Out of Court Statements
In criminal law trials hearsay evidence is generally not allowed unless it falls within an exception to the hearsay rule as provided for under Evidence Rule 801. Recently, however, a Washington appeals court considered whether a victim’s statement to a police officer was appropriately admitted into evidence. The case involved a couple living together who… Continue Reading »
Court Appointed Lawyers
If you’re facing criminal charges and are unable to afford a private defense attorney, you may qualify for a court-appointed lawyer. After all, one of the foundations of our legal system is that every criminal defendant has the right to legal representation. This is best understood by listening to the Miranda warning that police must… Continue Reading »
DOL System Upgrade
Just another friendly reminder from SQ Attorneys – Washington State’s Department of Licensing (“DOL”) is scheduled to update their aged computer system at the end of this month and into the first week of September. This ‘update’ will cause DOL services (on-line and/or in-person) to be delayed or even unavailable. Folks should be aware that… Continue Reading »
Has the Time Come?
In February of this year Mayor Jenny Durkan announced that Seattle intended to vacate convictions for people charged under the city’s misdemeanor marijuana possession ordinance. The State of California recently took a similar step by passing a bill requiring state prosecutors to erase or reduce marijuana convictions. This comes after California’s passage of Proposition 64 in… Continue Reading »
Pros and Cons of a Plea Bargain
Although plea bargaining is often criticized, more than 90 percent of criminal convictions come from negotiated pleas. Therefore, less than 10 percent of criminal cases actually go to trial. So, what are the incentives behind plea bargaining? Turns out, it’s quite complicated and it does not simply rely on one’s guilt or innocence. Below is… Continue Reading »
On the Rise – DUI’s and Minors
It was recently reported that in the Olympic Peninsula (which covers the western arm of Western Washington, as far north as Neah Bay, as far south as Ocean City and as far east as Port Ludlow) there was a concerning increase in DUI arrests with kids under the age of 16 in the perpetrator’s car.… Continue Reading »
Child Pornography
Federal and state laws make it a crime to produce, possess, distribute, or sell pornographic materials that exploit or portray a minor under the age of 18. Increasingly, child pornography laws are being utilized to punish use of computer technology and the Internet to obtain, share, and distribute pornographic material involving children, including images and… Continue Reading »
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