Our Articles | Varghese Summersett Blog

May 14, 2017 Criminal

Mental States: Intentionally, Knowingly, Negligently, Recklessly

Texas recognizes four culpable mental states: intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, and negligently. These mental states, known as mens rea (Latin for...

May 4, 2017 Criminal

9 Tips for Testifying in Court | Taking the Witness Stand

Testifying in criminal court can be nerve-wracking. The stakes are high and, in many cases, someone’s freedom is on the...

Apr 21, 2017 Criminal

The Age of Criminal Responsibility in Texas: A Look at House Bill 122

What is the Age of Criminal Responsibility in Texas? In Texas, 17-year-olds can’t vote, serve on a jury, play lotto,...

Apr 18, 2017 Criminal

What is UCW in Texas? Unlawful Carry of Weapon in Texas

What is Unlawful Carry of a Weapon? Unlawful Carry of a Weapon, or UCW, refers to offenses involving the illegal...

Apr 14, 2017 Criminal

Tarrant County SWIFT Program | Tarrant County SWIFT Probation

What is the Tarrant County SWIFT Program? The Tarrant County SWIFT program is a post-plea, intensive probation program that gives...

Apr 11, 2017 Criminal

Arrests in Texas | When Can Officers Make an Arrest? | Lawful Arrests

You would think defining “arrest” would be a simple task, but nothing could be further from the truth. There are...

Mar 22, 2017 Criminal

What is a Motion in Limine in a Criminal Trial in Texas?

A Motion in Limine is common in criminal trials, both at the state and federal level. It is a motion...

Mar 15, 2017 Criminal

Criminal Trial Analytics: Learning from Verdicts

In the world of civil litigation, tracking jury verdicts is big business. Attorneys and their clients want to know what...

Mar 9, 2017 Criminal

Eight Surprising Facts about the Texas Prison System

With 142,000 peo ple serving time in the Texas prison system, the Lone Star state has one of the largest...