In July 2020, the Supreme Court handed down a 5-4 decision that ruled Native American land that covers eastern Oklahoma, including most of the city of Tulsa, is subject to federal rather than state jurisdiction. What may seem like an arcane legal dispute over what level of government handles prosecution had implications for tribal sovereignty, treaty rights and the validity of … [Read more...]

Regardless of the weapon classification, a weapons charge is typically a serious matter. Anyone who faces an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge in Texas should familiarize themselves with how Texas defines a deadly weapon as this could help you prepare a defense for yourself. The Texas Penal Code defines a deadly weapon as the following: “A firearm or anything … [Read more...]

We’ve all seen the legal and police dramas where the accused confers with their lawyer to decide on the best strategy to gain acquittal or at least a reduced sentence. One of the most important decisions the legal team will make is which approach they bring to the courtroom. Common legal defenses fall into these 4 general categories 1. Innocence There isn’t anything more … [Read more...]

Criminal justice reform can be a hot topic among political activists. Yet this area of criminal law produced a moment of bipartisan agreement in Washington D.C. with the recent signing of the First Step Act into law. But it’s also an area that can be hard to define. Exactly what is criminal justice reform? It will mean different things to different people, but criminal justice … [Read more...]

Houston, Texas holds a distinction that no city wants: the city tops the list for highest rates of human trafficking in the U.S. Experts believe that the close proximity to the U.S./Mexico border (a span of nearly 2,000 miles, which is among the most used international crossings in the world) is a strong contributing factor. Human trafficking statistics According to the U.S. … [Read more...]