When clients call our law firm to discuss intoxication offenses, they often use the words DUI and DWI interchangeably. However, these two offenses are not the same thing in Texas. A DUI is reserved solely for people under the age of 21, while a person of any age can be charged DWI as long as certain elements are met. To be sure, both offenses can h...

Each year, thousands of mentally ill people are arrested in Texas. A small number of them will plead "not guilty by reason of insanity." But what does that mean? And what happens to them if they are found not guilty by reason of insanity? Not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) is a seldom-used defense that is raised for defendants who did not know...

Although it is rare, judges sometimes choose to sequester, or isolate, a jury in high-profile criminal trials. Basically, the jurors are kept away from other people and outside influences for the duration of the trial. In this article, we will explain jury sequestration and answer common questions about the process, including the advantages and dis...

 If you have been arrested for a federal crime, you will be asked to enter an initial plea of "guilty" or "not guilty" very early in the process. This can be confusing and overwhelming, especially if this is your first time in the federal justice system. In this article, we are going to explain when you enter a federal plea and what happens du...

 After someone is convicted in federal court – either by pleading guilty or by a trial – the federal sentencing process begins. Unlike state court, a judge is the only entity that can hand down a sentence in federal court. To arrive at a fair and just punishment, the federal judge relies heavily on something called a "Presentence Report," or P...

 It's a hot summer day and you are out running errands with your toddler. You park in a convenience store parking lot and notice that your baby is asleep in the car seat. You decide to quickly run into the store, leaving your child in the car unattended. Can you be arrested for leaving a child in a vehicle in Texas? In Texas, it is a crime – a...