Drinking laws are pretty well-known to lawyers and laymen alike. Don’t drink above the legal limit and drive. Don’t drink unless you’re 21 years old or older. But, what about open container laws? Sure, some people might have heard the phrase used, but what does it really mean? Well, the law is both civil and criminal. For statutory offenses, they …

This week alone, fentanyl has been linked to at least 10 fatal drug overdoses in South Florida. Fentanyl is a synthetic drug said to be up to 50 times more potent than heroin and has been recently referred to as Florida’s deadliest opioid. Often, the dangers of fentanyl come about through its covert nature – many of those suffering overdoses …

Witnesses are incredibly important in criminal cases. Witness testimony provides essential evidence, expert knowledge on dispositive issues, character assessments, and personal knowledge. There are three types of witnesses that generally are called to testify for the state or the defense. These include lay witnesses, expert witnesses, and character witnesses. Lay Witnesses According to Florida Evidence Code 90.701, if a witness …

The metaverse is a hot topic right now. With tech giants like Mark Zuckerberg and Satya Nadella referring to it as the future of the internet, many people are clamoring to get in on the action and predict how it will change life as we know it. Now, what exactly IS the “metaverse”? Well, it’s not a specific, easily definable …

In Florida criminal defense proceedings, defendant can generally take their case to trial before either a judge or a jury of their peers. A trial in front of only a judge is referred to as a “bench trial.” Jury trials are definitely more common and encapsulate the image brought to mind when the public at large hears about a trial. …

The Florida legislature has passed another bill that targets delicate cultural issues. After several bills proposed about limiting LGBTQ+ rights and information taught in schools, this bill is another added to the list that is receiving mixed reviews from both Republicans and Democrats. This specific bill focuses on the topic of abortion. Governor Ron DeSantis is endorsing a Republican-backed bill …

The case of one Florida man is yet another example of the new era for post-conviction innocence claims. Across the U.S. newly formed conviction review units are starting to work alongside defense attorneys. The purpose of these units is to reexamine evidence, look for information that wasn’t seen or heard during the initial trial, or find possible flaws within the …

It is surprising to many that Florida, a state notorious for having rather lenient general gun laws, has strict laws when it comes to machine guns and automatic firearms. This blog post will explore the current law in Florida regarding machine guns, legal ramifications for breaking those laws, as well as where Florida law remains silent regarding these kinds of …

A new bill has been proposed in Florida that could potentially make it possible—and much easier—to charge drug dealers with first-degree murder. The bill specifically covers the distribution of methamphetamine, and the penalties would result in extremely strict outcomes, such as life in prison or even the death penalty. Florida Statute Section 782.04 covers murder, which is the unlawful killing …