Federal drug and firearm cases often hinge on the government’s ability to investigate efficiently while respecting the constitutional protections guaranteed to every defendant. When delays occur between indictment and arrest, courts must determine whether those delays undermine the integrity of the prosecution or violate fundamental rights. A recent ruling from…
Defendants in Florida criminal cases have important constitutional protections, including the right to confront witnesses who testify against them. This right becomes especially significant in cases relying heavily on forensic or scientific evidence. When the prosecution uses substitute experts or introduces reports from unavailable witnesses, courts must ensure that the…
Federal sentencing laws often impose steep penalties on individuals with prior convictions, especially in firearm cases. When a person is classified as an armed career criminal, the mandatory minimum sentence can be decades of imprisonment. While defendants may later seek relief through post-conviction motions, federal courts closely scrutinize such claims,…
Federal criminal trials often raise high-stakes questions about fairness and constitutional rights. From how a jury is selected to how evidence is weighed at sentencing, each stage can shape the outcome of a case. When a defendant is accused of participating in a wide-reaching drug conspiracy, these issues become even…
In Florida, defendants accused of fraud-related offenses have the right to challenge whether the evidence presented at trial is legally sufficient to support a conviction. However, courts will uphold a conviction when a reasonable jury could find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt based on the record. This was illustrated in…
In federal sentencing, courts have limited discretion to reduce a sentence once it has been imposed. One exception allows for compassionate release in extraordinary and compelling circumstances. However, this relief is not easily obtained. A recent decision from a Florida court demonstrates the rigorous analysis federal courts apply to such…
In Florida criminal sentencing, trial courts must strictly follow procedural and statutory requirements when calculating prison terms, particularly when a sentence includes both habitual offender penalties and probation revocation. If they fail to do so, it may result in errors on sentencing scoresheets that can result in unlawful sentences, as…
In Florida criminal cases involving multiple charges, whether or not those charges are tried together can have a significant impact on a defendant’s right to a fair trial. Defendants frequently seek to sever unrelated charges to prevent prejudicial spillover from one count to another, particularly in serious felony cases. However,…
People convicted of federal white-collar offenses will often pursue multi-pronged appeals, raising both evidentiary and procedural challenges. However, the standards governing such appeals are highly deferential to the government, and courts are generally reluctant to overturn jury verdicts absent clear error. A recent Florida decision highlights the difficulty of reversing…
In Florida, people accused of crimes have numerous protections, including the right to be free from being tried or convicted more than once for the same offense. This does not mean that people cannot be charged with multiple offenses from a single criminal episode, though, if the legislature explicitly authorizes…