In my federal criminal defense practice here in Atlanta, I regularly file Pretrial Motions that challenge, in one way or another, the criminal indictment that alleges that my client did something illegal. There are several such cases I am currently working on, and the process of thinking about, and then…
I am a criminal defense lawyer who practices mostly in Atlanta, but I try to keep up with other cases from around the country if they involve the federal court system where I handle the bulk of my practice. I recently came across a case from south Florida, a case…
The federal Court of Appeals here in Atlanta (technically, called “the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit) has its main office and courthouse a few blocks from me here in downtown ATL. I do lots of cases over there. Like many criminal appeals, I usually request what…
We do criminal cases here, that’s just about all we do, whether in federal court in Georgia, Alabama, Florida or other parts of the country, but also throughout the State of Georgia. Many times, clients feel that a particular judge will not be fair, and they want us to talk…
Criminal cases in federal court, as well as the many state court matters we handle, often are resolved with what many people refer to as a “plea agreement.” Basically, the prosecutor gives the Defendant something in return for a plea of guilty, such as a recommendation for a lower sentence,…
One of the white collar federal criminal cases me and my partner Carl Lietz have handled here in Atlanta involved a very successful local radiologist. The doctor came to see us after being represented by some other very accomplished attorneys. We took on his case, fought very hard, yet lost…
Federal criminal trials almost always involve the question of “knowledge”, meaning that the prosecution is obligated to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the Defendant “knew” about some fact. In US v. Vana Haile, the Eleventh Circuit here in Atlanta showed how the issue of “knowledge” can change, depending on…
Our beloved Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, just down the street here in Atlanta, recently refused to join the ever-growing chorus of other courts that permit expert witness testimony to illuminate the real shortcomings in eyewitness identifications. A 30-year old ruling in the 11th Circuit said that the Court of…
The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution includes the well-known protection against double jeopardy. Some lawyers and lay people might not realize that there is sort of a “little brother” to the protection against double jeopardy, which is called the rule of “collateral estoppel.” The United States Court of Appeals…
The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, siting here in Atlanta, reversed a federal tax conviction today because the judge impermissibly participated in plea discussions with the Defendant. The case is United States v. Davila. The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure make it crystal clear that while…