Category: Criminal Defense
As a defense lawyer I like to win trials. Given that in felony trials the State wins in front of the jury about 90% of the time, all defense lawyers who have their heart in the job relish a in. Winning a high publicity trial is nirvana. Not only does a lawyer enjoy the win,…
In state court in Texas, plea agreements almost always involve a plea to a certain sentence whether it be a particular term of probation or a particular number of days or months in jail or prison. Like most contracts, each side knows what it is getting and what it is giving up when a defendant…
President Obama recently signed legislation reducing, but not eliminating, the disparate ways in which federal criminal law penalizes those involved with crack cocaine and those involved with powder cocaine. This becomes the second small step in an attempt to eliminate the unjust fashion in which the federal drug laws distinguish between crack cocaine and powder…
Clients often wait to retain us until they are actually indicted. Many times, however, had the client come to us when they first became aware they were under criminal investigation they might have avoided indictment all together or, at least, been in a better position to defend themselves once they were indicted. Just as it…
Federal prosecutors are prosecuting child pornography offenses at an astounding rate both here in the Northern District of Texas and throughout the country. Because of Broden & Micklesen’s reputation as one of the preeminent federal criminal defense firms in the United States, we were recently hired to represent the husband of an FBI agent who…
A potential client came to see me the other day. The potential client was charged in federal court with possession and distribution of child pornography. When the potential client called me to set up the appointment, it was clear that he did not have much money. He was being represented by a Federal Public Defender…
There are many Texas attorneys who advertise that they will “serve as both your bail bond agent (bondsman) and your attorney” and that they provide “competitive rates” for bail bonds that can later be applied to legal fees. Never Hire an Attorney that will also be your Bail Bondsman We strongly recommend that you NEVER…
In rare cases in federal court, it is possible to make the government pay for a wrongful prosecution. On November 26, 1997, Congress passed the Hyde Amendment which provides that if a defendant prevails in a prosecution brought in federal court and the court finds that the prosecution was “vexatious, frivolous or in bad faith,”…
The Rights You Deserve and Can Expect to Receive You have a right to expect several things from any criminal lawyer you hire with the understanding that, like many things in life, you often get what you pay for. To further complicate the matter, there are lawyers who charge absurdly large fees and provide no…
When a potential client calls our firm and tells us they have been charged with a criminal offense, our first question is if the charge is for state or federal court. There have been several instances where we have even represented two individuals at the same time, charged with similar crimes. Although one is in…