2018
Colorado Springs police, media assume driver in crash was DUI
Car accidents happen for any number of reasons. When they are particularly spectacular, it can be easy to assume that intoxication was the cause, perhaps because many shocking DUI accidents have been reported on the news. The mere fact of an accident, however, does not imply the driver was drunk. It’s important to remember...
Continue Reading
Can your lawyer overrule your decision to say you’re innocent?
The U.S. Supreme Court has just heard arguments in a case where a criminal defense attorney overruled his client’s decision to insist on his innocence at trial. In a Louisiana death penalty case, the attorney gauged that there was overwhelming evidence of the defendant’s guilt. He thought the only way to convince the jury...
Continue Reading
President discusses ‘vicious cycle’ of ex-prisoners struggling
Although President Trump is better known for his “tough on crime” rhetoric, he recently advocated for better services for prisoners once they’re released. On a Jan. 11 roundtable with lawmakers and policy wonks, Trump said he wants to “break this vicious cycle” of recidivism that, for many, involves trouble reentering society once their sentences...
Continue Reading
Federal prosecutors may target cannabis in areas where it’s legal
U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has signaled that federal prosecutors may be about to crack down on marijuana use in states and jurisdictions where it has been legalized. Possession and distribution of cannabis remains illegal under federal law, but the previous administration had adopted a hands-off approach when dealing with the drug in Colorado...
Continue Reading