The Michigan Supreme Court ruled back in 2007 in the case of People v. Labelle that passengers riding in a vehicle did not have the ability or standing to challenge a police search of their personal property within that vehicle. Since 2007, this has been the rule that Michigan Courts…
Sports fans across the state of Michigan are excited that they can now gamble online and in Detroit casinos legally. With the new law in place, the old school “bookie” is facing extinction but make no mistake about it, they still exist. How the new legislation will affect the illegal…
In criminal law, one of the most important aspects of criminal defense is the witness list. The witnesses that testify at trial can be beneficial if the jury connects with their personality. To discuss this in greater detail, we spoke to several of the top criminal defense lawyers in the…
As Michigan’s capital city, and it’s fifth-largest city by population, Lansing is one of the state’s most notable cities. But if you’re facing criminal charges in Lansing, especially if those charges are your first exposure to our state’s criminal justice system, then the city and it’s courts can be confusing…
In Michigan, we are a state that employs “Truth in Sentencing” which means the concept of good time credit for those incarcerated within the Michigan Department of Corrections are forced to serve the sentence that they receive. With House Bill 5666, there is a chance that prisoners may win a…
While litigation in the criminal sector can be an exhausting proposition, there are times when a diligent attorney can be proactive before anyone is ever charged with a crime. This is what is called a “Case Evaluation.” In criminal law, a “case evaluation” allows defense counsel to do things such…
“It’s always personal,” I screamed as the prosecutor and the probation officer stared at me. Alone in the judge’s chambers, we sat there are 7:30 am on a Saturday morning. Snow on the ground, no suit or tie, just 4 men screaming over the fate of this 18-year-old kid. Would…
When picking a jury, the best way to determine if you should use a peremptory challenge or to challenge one for cause is to have a series of questions. While there are numerous options for these, we have provided content on this subject which has helped us find success in…
Preparing for a trial can be one of the most tedious and frustrating aspects of criminal law. The prosecutor and defense counsel both have an agenda. The prosecutor’s goal should be the protection of the community. The criminal defense lawyer’s plan should be to preserve the constitutional rights of his…
In the age of cell phones and the Internet, society has taken communications to areas that were never thought to have been possible. With the advancements of technology, there have also been pitfalls in the field of criminal procedure, and one such zone of danger for the criminal defendant is…