Can People be Forced to Wear Face Masks in Court?

In federal court, many people who are accused of crimes face very steep sentences. Those steep penalties give federal prosecutors plenty of leverage when it comes to obtaining guilty pleas. But now, some federal prosecutors are even taking things a step further, by...

Ride sharing services, such as Uber and Lyft, are becoming increasingly popular. They are easy, convenient and you really don't have to think about much. Unless, you are travelling with a small child. Those travelling with small children, now have to think hard about...

If the police come to your home and demand to search, here are three important things to remember. First, ask it they have a search warrant. Many times the police will come to a home without a warrant, and they will request consent to search. Police will often...

The right to a jury trial is one of the most important rights in our criminal justice system. An accused has a constitutional right to be judged by a jury of his/her peers. But seasoned criminal defense lawyers know that, while this sounds good on paper, in practice,...

The OVI/DUI laws in Ohio are very strict, and the penalties are severe. In addition, a person who is convicted of an OVI offense will likely face a steep increase in car insurance rates. Finally, in Ohio, an OVI offense becomes part of a person's permanent record - it...

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recently urged state judges to consider granting early release for some inmates who are at an increased risk for contracting the coronavirus. The Governor recommended that inmates who are elderly, pregnant or who have high risk health...

If you are stopped by police and the officer declares "I smell the odor of marijuana"; can the officer then search your car without a warrant? In the past, that simple statement "I smell marijuana", was enough to open the door for police to search a person's vehicle...

Federal authorities in San Francisco charged two women with robbery affecting interstate commerce, for stealing $ 90 worth of items from a Walgreens drugstore, by claiming to have the coronavirus. The federal complaint alleges that on April 6, 2020, the two women...

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the semester for college students across the country - and thousands of incarcerated students are no exception. On the outside, college professors are conducting classes using ZOOM. But in prison, where the vast majority of...

Under the new Paycheck Protection Program, small business applicants can obtain forgivable loans to make payroll and other other qualified expenses, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, consideration of an applicant's prior criminal record is front and center on the...