Who Has Jurisdiction When a Crime is Committed on a Cruise Ship? While most people embark on cruises to escape the daily grind and indulge in a slice of paradise, the unfortunate reality is that crimes can and do happen on the high seas. Cruise ships frequent the port of Miami and embark on tropical getaways through international waters. [...]
Police Officers Often Feel Pressure to Make an Arrest in Domestic Violence Calls It's late at night, and a 911 call comes in reporting yelling and screaming coming from an apartment. Two police officers are dispatched to the scene, expecting to encounter a heated domestic dispute. They knock on the door, and a couple answers—a man and a woman, [...]
Police Use of Geofence Warrants: A Troubling New Tactic That Puts Innocent People at Risk What are Geofence Warrants and How Do They Work? A geofence warrant seeks stored location records associated with devices in a defined area during a specified period. Police have used these warrants to look for possible suspects when they know where a crime occurred [...]
Jurisdiction Matters: Understanding Criminal Jurisdiction Issues in Florida Territorial Jurisdiction - The Power of Place General Rule Territorial jurisdiction concerns Florida’s authority to prosecute an offense based on its connection to the state. Venue concerns the county where the case should be tried. For example, a shoplifting offense committed entirely in Miami-Dade County ordinarily should be tried there. Exceptions and [...]
The 6th Amendment Right to Counsel: An Essential Protection for All Defendants If you or a loved one have been charged with a crime, one of your most fundamental rights is the 6th Amendment right to legal representation. Having an experienced criminal defense attorney by your side through every step of the process can make all the difference in [...]
5 Things You Should NEVER Do When Interacting With a Cop Being pulled over or approached by a police officer in Miami can be a nerve-wracking experience. Many immediately think of the consequences, even if we believe we've done nothing wrong. Understanding your rights and knowing what not to do can significantly reduce the chances of an arrest or [...]
What To Do If You Think You Are Under Criminal Investigation and a Detective Contacts You Discovering you may be under criminal investigation can be an alarming and stressful experience. Many people are unsure how to respond when detectives reach out requesting information or an interview. You can decline a voluntary interview and consult a lawyer before answering questions about [...]
Unequal Justice: Wells Fargo and the Double Standard of Corporate Crime As a criminal defense attorney, I’m troubled by the gap between the prison terms ordinary defendants can face and the punishment imposed on executives involved in large corporate scandals. The September 2023 sentencing of former Wells Fargo executive Carrie Tolstedt raises that concern. After pleading guilty to obstructing [...]
Reimagining Pretrial Justice in Miami - Why Our City Should Lead on Bail Reform Update — October 2026: This article’s discussion of the dispute over Miami-Dade’s proposed bail reforms concerns events in 2023. Since January 2024, Florida law has required a statewide bond schedule for eligible defendants released before first appearance. Lower local schedules require Florida Supreme Court approval, [...]
The Burden of Proof in Criminal Cases: A Guide for Defendants in Florida If you have been charged with a crime in Florida, one of the most important concepts you need to understand is the burden of proof. The burden of proof refers to the obligation of the prosecution to prove every element of the alleged crime beyond a [...]
