Diversion in a criminal case- what does it mean?
Terms like diversion, or first-time offender’s programs, are thrown around a lot when an individual is facing criminal charges, misdemeanor or felony. The purpose of a diversion program is to save an individual from having a criminal conviction follow them around...
Why Domestic Violence is a Double Whammy
Just hearing the words domestic violence makes a lot of people uncomfortable. As a criminal defense attorney, my job is to uphold the Constitution, and represent my client to the best of my ability, no matter the allegation. A domestic violence conviction creates a...
Help! I just got an OVI- but I need driving privileges to get to work
One of the most comprising situations an individual can find him or herself in is being charged with an OVI, but needing to be able to drive to work, school, daycare. Here is the skinny on how driving privileges work. First: They are called driving privileges for a...
Am I eligible to seal my record?
It's appropriate to talk about expungement or sealing of a criminal conviction as 2015 comes to a close and we prepare to welcome 2016. Expungement embraces the idea of second chances and personal growth. That's what the new year is all about, right? It's important to...
So you have a warrant for your arrest
It's a common occurrence in my practice to get a phone call from a potential client who has just learned that they have a warrant out for their arrest. It can be really scary for the individual, but is common for me to deal with in my practice. And sometimes, people...
Lawyer Talk- Time to get street smart!
I really should create an alert on my calendar to blog. My cases just seem to be getting in the way:) So I was thinking today about how you pick up lingo by being on the streets and/or in the criminal justice system, albeit willingly or not. So I am going to share...
Yours, mine and ours- A lesson on firearms in groups
I recently argued a case in the 8th District Court of Appeals where my client had been convicted in the trial court of aggravated robbery, kidnapping, and a firearm specification.This was one of those cases where I desperately wished I had been involved sooner...
Ohio’s Financial Responsibility Law- Don’t Let Yours Lapse
Car insurance is one of those things that we all take for granted: gotta have it, and don't really pay too much attention to it until we need it. Like when someone rear ends us, or we rear end someone, or we get a speeding ticket. OR when we get a letter from the BMV...
DUI Checkpoints
Last night the Ohio State Highway Patrol conducted a sobriety checkpoint in Lakewood at the Corner of Detroit and Northland. The checkpoint ran from 9 pm to 1 am and was coupled with officers patrolling the surrounding area. The United States Supreme Court has upheld...
Baby Mama Drama – Child Support Arrearage
So the phrase, "Baby Mama Drama" has become a staple of the English language in the past few years, but really, for good reason. So, I recently had a Baby Mama Drama child support case, so in the hopes that someone with some BMD is reading this, here we go. So what...
Give me my stuff back! Replevin what?
Replevin is one of those words that just sounds...smart. It's a word I think I heard in law school one time. So when a client called me asking about a replevin, I was like, really?? But last week I had a replevin hearing. Admittedly, replevin is not the sexiest topic...
State of the Fourth Amendment- DUI blood tests being argued in the U.S. Supreme Court
Last week, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Missouri v. McNeely, a case involving whether police officers can take blood draws, without a warrant, of those suspected of drunk driving. This case stems from Tyler McNeely's DWI (Missouri's DUI or...