Affordable and Practical Legal Advice for Your Specific Situation It is hard to find a lawyer who is willing to handle full representation on a protection order case because these cases can be a tremendous amount of work in a very short time frame. Experienced lawyers like Jennifer Horwitz, bill hourly on these cases and […]
Continue reading…
Violation of Protection Orders: Legal Consequences in Washington
The legal consequences of violating an order of protection in Washington will vary depending on the facts of the situation. It is important to realize that you can get charged with a crime if you contact or respond to contact from the petitioner, even if they tell you that they have dropped the order of […]
Continue reading…
Expert Witnesses You May See in a Domestic Violence Case
Expert witnesses are used in all types of civil and criminal cases. From psychologists to forensic experts, the courtroom can turn into a stage for professionals during a domestic violence case. Get acquainted with the potential expert witnesses you might encounter and the roles they play in shaping the case’s outcome in this introduction to […]
Continue reading…
Ask the Attorney: What if I Was Charged for Something That I Didn’t Realize Was Illegal?
Ignorance isn’t always bliss, especially with the law. The courts could hold you accountable for your actions regardless of your knowledge of the law. Find out what legal defenses are available if you’re charged with a crime you didn’t know was illegal and how to navigate such unexpected legal waters from an experienced Washington criminal […]
Continue reading…
Understanding Self-Defense Claims in Domestic Violence Cases
Some people take advantage of the domestic violence laws in Washington state to try to gain an unfair advantage in a divorce or paternity case. These people provoke their significant other, often with physical violence or threats of physical violence, and then call the police when the object of this strategy defends themselves. If you […]
Continue reading…
How Does the Prosecutor Decide to Drop Charges or Take a Case to Trial?
Prosecutors cannot possibly take every single case to trial. After a case gets assigned to a prosecutor, they have to decide whether to drop the charges, work out a deal with the defendant’s lawyer, or try the case. These decisions usually happen out of sight of the defendant, who might be left wondering about the […]
Continue reading…
How Washington State Defines the “Primary Aggressor”
Domestic violence cases are fraught for many reasons. In addition to the emotional implications for everyone involved, there are legal issues that can make such cases challenging for the accused, the alleged victim, and even police and prosecutors. One such aspect of domestic violence cases is identifying the “primary aggressor:” the person alleged to pose the […]
Continue reading…
Ask the Attorney: The person who pressed charges against me now wants to drop them. What happens next?
If you are facing criminal prosecution in Seattle, hearing that the person who pressed charges against you now wants to drop them may come as an immense relief. However, the decision to do so rests not with the alleged victim but with the attorneys prosecuting the case – though the accuser’s change of heart could […]
Continue reading…
Entrapment and Prostitution Charges
Innocent people can be arrested due to mistakes or police misconduct. One form of police misconduct that could possibly be used as a defense in a prostitution case is entrapment. Police often rely on sting operations to make prostitution arrests. Officers pose as prostitutes or customers. However, officers must follow very strict guidelines when conducting […]
Continue reading…
Should I Ever Give Police Consent to Search My Car, Home, or Person?
Interactions with the police can be high-stress situations. It is essential to know your legal rights and what Washington law requires. You should contact a Seattle criminal defense attorney at once if the police want to search you, your car, or your house. You should always be respectful and, for your own safety, try to […]
Continue reading…