I never even touched him, so I know I didn't commit assault. Are you sure about that? "Assault" is one of those criminal law terms -- admittedly, there are others, as well -- that can be a bit elusive and even downright slippery when it comes to the question of...
Month: June 2017
Appeals Court: No lifetime supervised release for drug traffickers
In July 2010, the U.S. Sentencing Commission issued a report on the federal supervised release program, which is similar to parole. The main purpose of the program, the report said, is "to facilitate the reintegration of federal prisoners back into the community." In...
Undermining justice and logic: judge on mandatory minimums
"[O]ppressively harsh, even draconian" is the way we termed in a recent blog post many criminal sentencing outcomes dependent on so-called "mandatory minimum" guidelines. Those rules -- which can materially limit a court's discretion in select cases -- often yield, as...
Instructive tale? Tiger Woods gets a bit of adverse press
Doesn't it sometimes seem to be the case that top-tier celebrities seem to be akin to fantasy figures, with tabloid-laden lives that resemble narratives grounded in fiction rather than reality? You can take your pick of high-profile figures to test that point. Tiger...
Don’t downplay a seemingly minor traffic or criminal offense
Sure, most young people duly appreciate -- and quickly -- the need to promptly secure effective legal counsel when they are targeted by law enforcers who allege their involvement in a serious criminal matter. That same level of awareness and dispatch is often far less...
Don’t ruin summer fun with a drunken boating arrest
Summer is officially here. Most PSU students and local kids are enjoying their summer vacations. Parents and young adults also like to take advantage of the beautiful weather and long daylight hours to soak up the sun and spend time with friends. Raystown Lake and...