Criminal Law Newsletters

CRIMINAL TRESPASS

A person commits the offense of criminal trespass when he or she enters or remains on property or in a building of another person without that person's consent after he or she has been given notice that entry was forbidden or that he or she must depart. The other person does not need to own the property in order to give notice to depart. The other person must only have a greater right of possession that the person who commits the offense.

Jury Selection in Capital Cases

In a case in which a defendant may face the death penalty, jury selection takes on additional and different concerns than those faced in jury selection generally. The nature of the case, penalty phase procedures and length of the case are all additional factors that must be taken into consideration.

MANUFACTURING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES

A person commits a criminal offense if he or she manufactures a controlled substance without authorization, if he or she manufactures a counterfeit or a simulated substance with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, or if he or she manufactures drug paraphernalia with the intent to deliver the drug paraphernalia to a person who intends to violate the drug laws.

RELIEF FROM JUDGMENTS REGARDING COMPETENCY TO STAND TRIAL

A defendant does not generally have a right to appeal a judgment from a hearing on the defendant's competency to stand trial. The defendant only has a right to appeal his or her conviction for the offense with which he or she was charged.

RIOT, OBSTRUCTION, AND DISRUPTION

A person commits the offense of riot when he or she, along with an assembly of a certain number of persons, creates an immediate danger of injury to property or to other persons or when he or she substantially interferes or obstructs law enforcement or other government functions or services.