Category: Criminal Defense
Permitless Carry Bill Allows Expungement of Unlawful Carry of a Firearm
Texas’s Permitless Carry Bill Allows Expungement of Unlawful Carry June 16th, 2021 was a momentous day for Texas gun rights advocates as Governor Greg Abbott finally signed House Bill 1927 into law. HB 1927, commonly referred to as the Permitless Carry Bill, eliminates the requirement for Texans to obtain a license to carry a handgun…
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Travis County New Public Defender Office Hires Virginia Law Professor as Lead
Travis County New Public Defender Office Hires Virginia Law Professor as Lead For years, Travis County has been one of the largest counties in the country without a public defender’s office. Instead offenders who couldn’t afford legal representation had to resort to the Capital Area Private Defender Service (CAPDS), which is a non-profit joint venture…
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What Drivers Must Do After a Crash to Avoid Hit and Run Charges
What Drivers Must Do After a Crash to Avoid Hit and Run Charges You’re driving along and suddenly you feel an impact. It’s clear you’ve just been involved in a motor vehicle crash and the results are devastating. You might not have insurance, so you fear the serious civil actions you might face. Maybe you…
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New Law in Texas Makes it Illegal to Send Unsolicited Nudes
New Law in Texas Makes it Illegal to Send Unsolicited Nudes This September in 2019, hundreds of new Texas laws went into effect. One of these is the new controversial “nudes” law which stemmed from House Bill 2789 presented by House Representative Morgan Meyer. Essentially, the new law establishes that sending unsolicited photos of yourself…
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Should I Get a Public Defender or a Court-Appointed Attorney?
Should I Get a Public Defender or a Court-Appointed Attorney? The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution establishes that: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall…
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Sealing DWI Convictions in Austin Texas
First-Time DWI Offenders Get Second-Chance New Texas Bill, House Bill 3016, was recently signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbot, allowing individuals with certain nonviolent criminal convictions to have those convictions sealed from their records. The new “second chance” law, as it is being called, is a drastic step forward for Texas citizens, especially…
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Continual Increase in Controlled substance use by College Students
Continual Increase in Controlled substance use by College Students For over a decade marijuana use has increased continually among college students. In 2015, 38% of college students said that they used marijuana in the last 12 months. This is up 30 percent from 2006. Studies show that young people age 18-24 have a heightened risk…
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New Criminal Laws in Texas in 2015
New Criminal Laws in Texas in 2015 As of Sept 1 2015, the State Legislature in Austin, TX, changed the penalties for several of the most common criminal offenses prosecuted in Texas. Many of these new law changes impacted the threshold levels that determine the classification of the offense and the penalties associated with that…
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Texas Concealed Handgun New Laws Take Effect
Texas Concealed Handgun New Laws Take Effect Effective January 1, 2016 new laws for the open carrying of handguns were passed in House bill 910. The new law authorizes individuals to obtain a license to openly carry a handgun in the same places that allow the licensed carrying of a concealed handgun with some exceptions….
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Do Not Plead Guilty to Family Violence Charges in Travis County, Texas
Do Not Plead Guilty to Family Violence Charges in Travis County, Texas Many individuals accused of family violence in Travis County and throughout Texas believe they are trapped and must plead guilty to domestic violence charges to make the whole thing go away. This is not always the case. In Travis County nearly 65% of…
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