Can You Be Held Criminally Responsible for Another? Yes. Texas has specifically abolished any distinctions between “accomplice” and “principal” culpability. That makes each person criminally responsible as a “party” to the offense. This is sometimes referred to as the “Law of Parties in Texas” and is codified under Section 7.01 of the Texas Penal Code. What […]
What is the Law of Parties in Texas? Read More »
What is Improper Photography in Texas? Penal Code Section 21.15 outlines instances in which taking a photograph is illegal in Texas. It is illegal to photograph a person with the intent to invade another’s privacy in a changing room or bathroom, an intimate area of another person without their permission while a person has a reasonable
Improper Photography Charges In Texas Read More »
In Texas, a grand jury is made up of 12 people who determine whether or not there is probable cause to believe that a felony offense occurred. It only inquires into felony offenses and a limited number of misdemeanor offenses. In this article we will answer some frequently asked questions about the grand jury process,
What is a Grand Jury and How Does it Work in Texas? Read More »
Can Officers Take Discarded Items and Have Them Tested for DNA? Police officers are known to take discarded items and have them tested for DNA. In March of 2015, the Supreme Court decided not to hear Raynor v. Maryland, a case raising the issue of “surreptitious sampling” or the practice of testing discarded evidence. It seems
Can Police Take DNA Without a Warrant? Read More »
Looking for a Drug Offender Education Program (DOEP)? Look no further. Here’s the entire list of Drug Offender Education Programs. The list is also available as a downloadable PDF file here: DOEP in Tarrant, Johnson and Dallas Counties. Contact Us About DOEP Possibilities If you have been charged with possession of a controlled substance or
Where Can I Take a Drug Offender Class? | Drug Offender Education Program (DOEP) Read More »
If you have been arrested for a felony or a non-traffic misdemeanor offense, your case will be heard in one of the 20 criminal courts in downtown Fort Worth. All of the Tarrant County criminal courts at the County and District levels are located inside the Tim Curry Justice Center. The Tim Curry Justice
Tarrant County Criminal Courts: Where to Go and What to Expect Read More »
Burdens of Proof Innocent until proven guilty. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt. These are not just clichés or catch-phrases. They are standards and burdens imposed on the prosecution to avoid wrongful convictions. Our country was founded on the premise that criminal convictions have such an impact on a person’s life and liberty, directly and indirectly,
Burden of Proof Chart: What is Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt? Read More »
Since 1996, the Silver Gavel Award has been presented by the Tarrant County Bar Association to a current or former member of the Tarrant County judiciary who served Tarrant County for at least ten years while exemplifying three qualities: ability, integrity, and courage. This award is reserved for those rare individuals who never settle for
Judge Brent Carr Receives Silver Gavel Award Read More »
Were you illegally stopped? Police officers often joke that if they cannot find a legal reason to stop your vehicle within 200 yards, then they are not doing a good job. To understand if you were illegally stopped, let’s first look at legal stops in Texas. There are two basic types of legal stops in
Illegally Stopped? Understanding Reasonable Suspicion Read More »
