Ever wonder how the judges selection process works?
In Minnesota, as in many states, the state court judges are elected. The constitution of the state requires this. However, if a judge retires before his term is finished the governor may appoint a new judge to fill the spot. The federal courts are different. Under the U.S. Constitution, all …
After working for over 30 years as a prosecutor and Public Defender, I’ll show you myths about being arrested.
1. Being arrested means you have a right to make a phone call to your loved one.
It’s seen in the movies. Why? It’s a dramatic point. But not in real life. There’s no constitutional or procedural right to …
I’m writing a new mystery book called, The Amygdala Hijack. It refers to a psychological condition. Some legal scholars think it should be used in the mental illness insanity defense. What the heck is an amygdala hijack?
For 150 years, courts have recognized that people who have a significant mental illness may be found not guilty of a …
Local prosecutor, Pete Orput, in an effort to stop juvenile drug crimes in Minnesota, has made an unusual move: he’s charged a group of people with murder in the death of a teenager, Tara Fitzgerald, who died as the result of taking synthetic LSD. Can he win and convict all of the group? And how does he think …
Here in a small town in Minnesota, Byron Smith was found guilty of murder for killing two young people who broke into his home on Thanksgiving day last year. He claimed self defense because he has a right to defend himself in his home and use deadly force—even killing someone to protect himself. It’s sometimes called the Castle …
In Pretoria, South Africa, the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius has started. If you recall, he has been charged with murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. Because of his extraordinary work as a disabled Olympic athlete and her work as a model, the case has attracted world attention.
The facts presented by the media are straight forward. Mr. Pistorius …
The tragedy of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death from an apparent overdose of heroin prompted me to post something positive.
Most of the countries of Europe have chosen to treat drug possession and use as a public health problem. The U.S. has chosen to criminalize these activities. I’m not getting into an argument about legalizing various drugs in our …
Where do you want me to send your free book?