Yearly Archives: 2020

Do I have a right to a lawyer??

Each defendant is entitled to represent themselves, if they wish, in criminal proceedings. However, lawyers have long said that anyone who chooses to defend their own case “has a fool for a client,” and even if that seems self-serving coming from lawyers, there is some truth to the idea. The legal system is complicated, and… Continue Reading »

Acronym Acrimony

Is the Caution Against Racial and Exploitative Non-Emergencies Act (otherwise known as, “CAREN”) legislation about to become law in San Francisco? If so, can Seattle be far behind? Today the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will decide. CAREN came about because the people of San Francisco are simply fed up with white people calling 911… Continue Reading »

How Long Can You Be Held in Custody?

SQ Attorneys

Let’s go back to basics. As criminal defense lawyers, we are asked regularly how long can someone be held in custody without charges being filed? Getting arrested is probably one of the most stressful experiences you can go through in life, not to mention the hardship it can put on your loved ones. There is… Continue Reading »

ACLU Challenges Unpaid Ticket Law

Last week the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) took a big step in protecting Washington citizens by challenging the state’s practice of suspending a driver’s privilege to drive when he/she fails to pay their traffic fine(s). The ACLU’s argument is that the suspension unjustly favors the wealthy, and punishes the financially challenged, a huge proportion… Continue Reading »

Murder Murder Murder

Hopefully you will never have to deal with a murder allegation in your lifetime. We hear about murder trials and charges each day. There are several different types of murder charges that a defendant can be charged with. In order to help make sense of the degrees of murder, lets start with the most serious… Continue Reading »

Legislative Change Afoot?

Under Washington Law officers can only be decertified under a very narrow set of circumstances. Often the process drags on for years and years. This is so regardless of how egregious the misconduct may have been, and officers generally get to maintain their badge during the process. Clearly that is problem and may inhibit timely… Continue Reading »

Drugs and DUI

The charge of driving under the influence, or DUI, typically relates to alcohol intoxication. Nevertheless alcohol is just one of countless substances that can impair one’s ability to operate a motor vehicle. Driving under the influence of drugs, ncluding prescription medications as well as illegal drugs can also result in DUI charges. Mixing drugs and… Continue Reading »

Change is Inevitable, it Seems

As the days and months of protests continue on, at least one U.S. city has taken to a new way of policing. The City of Buffalo, New York – as a calculated measure of safety – is now permitting its police officers to no longer display their names on their uniforms. Buffalo’s new rule only… Continue Reading »

Refusing the Breathalyzer Test

Drunk-driving checkpoints, arrests, and convictions have become so common that everyone seems to have their own story, or, if not, a friend that you may know has a story. For every story there’s just as many arm-chair attorneys who know exactly what to do when faced with a Breathalyzer test. So what is one supposed… Continue Reading »

What is a Video Worth?

With the continuous civil strife going on, there has been a huge push for police accountability in Washington State. One mechanism to accomplish this goal is body cameras. The investment in such devices, however, is quite prohibitive for many cities and counties throughout Washington State. There are, in fact, only a couple of police departments… Continue Reading »