Can a Zoom Criminal Hearing Violate a Defendant’s Rights in Texas?
Virtual court may feel less formal than walking into a courtroom. That is dangerous. A probation revocation or motion to adjudicate can end with a defendant taken into custody and sentenced. Montgomery v. State is a Texas Court of Criminal Appeals decision about whether the Confrontation Clause required an in-person hearing for a motion to […]
Read MoreCan Problems With a DPS Blood Analyst Affect a Texas DWI Case?
If you were arrested for DWI in Houston, Fort Bend County, Montgomery County, or anywhere in the greater Houston area, and the State is treating a blood-test number like the case is already over, take a breath. It is not over. A lab result is not the same thing as proof beyond a reasonable doubt, […]
Read MoreWhen Can a Defendant Challenge an Appeal Waiver?
In federal court, many plea agreements include appeal waivers. A defendant may give up the right to appeal the conviction, the sentence, or both, often with limited exceptions. Hunter v. United States matters because the Supreme Court recognized that an appeal waiver is not automatically enforceable in every circumstance. If enforcing the waiver would produce […]
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