Criminal

The Fourth of July is a patriotic holiday celebrating the independence of the United States. It’s a time for Americans to come together with family and friends to enjoy parades, cookouts, fireworks, and other festivities. While it’s a time to commemorate America’s freedom, inevitably, plenty of Texans will jeopardize their own and wind up behind […]

What is a Mistrial? A mistrial is a trial that has not been successfully completed. It can occur for a variety of reasons, such as a hung jury (when the jury is deadlocked and cannot come to a unanimous decision), the death or illness of a juror or attorney, an error in the proceedings that

Most criminal offenses in Texas have some sort of mental state requirement. These are sometimes referred to as “culpable mental states” or “mens rea” which is Latin for “guilty mind.” The possible mental states in Texas criminal law are: Intentionally Knowingly Negligently Recklessly No Mental State Required You generally cannot commit a crime purely on

The Right to a Jury Trial in Criminal Cases The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees individuals the right to a trial by an impartial jury in criminal cases. In 49 of the 50 states (and in all federal courts), the jury’s verdict must be unanimous (Oregon still permits verdicts if at least 10

It’s popular for young men to rush a fraternity when they arrive at college. Although hazing isn’t present in every fraternity, a culture of needing to “earn your spot” is common. This often causes older members to take advantage of or exploit younger members, creating an environment where dangerous and demeaning activities are normalized. As

Assault on a pregnant woman is a very serious crime in Texas. Not only is it a felony to assault a pregnant woman, but a conviction can have far-reaching consequences on your personal and professional life. The laws in Texas are very strict when it comes to protecting pregnant women and their unborn children. If

The Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in May 2018 in Murphy v. NCAA, holding that PASPA “regulate[s] state governments’ regulation of their citizens,” which is not a power given to congress by the Constitution. As a win for New Jersey and other states seeking to legalize sports betting, the

Is Gambling Illegal in Texas? In Texas, a person commits the offense of gambling if the person makes a bet on the partial or final result of a game or contest or the performance of a participant in a game or contest. What is Considered Betting in Texas? The State of Texas defines “bet” as