Clemency refers to the lowering or moderating of a jail or prison sentence. If a defendant has gone through the appeals process and does not have any other options, he or she may choose to pursue a clemency request from the Governor. The process of pursuing clemency...
Paving The Way To Justice
Paving The Way To Justice
Criminal Law
Reviewing options for a criminal appeal
Once an individual faces a judge after the jury has returned a verdict in a criminal trial, the sentencing that occurs may seem especially harsh if they believe that the process or final outcome was unfair. Just because the trial is over does not have to mean the case...
Suspect faces felony drug charges related to fentanyl pills
Crime stories with unusual “twists” always seem to make the news in the Seattle area. It’s all part of keeping the audience’s attention, probably. However, one fundamental concept must stay at the heart of our understanding of these news reports: an arrest is not the...
First-time drug offenders will go to treatment, not jail
On the heels of a recent Washington Supreme Court declaring the state’s drug possession law unconstitutional, the state legislature has followed through with legislation intended to overhaul current possession laws. Passed last April, SB 5476 will send first-time drug...
The basics of the appeals process
The criminal appeals process is vital for anyone facing criminal charges to understand. It is a complex process of critical importance to anyone impacted by the criminal justice process making understanding the basics of appeals valuable. The basics of the appeals...
Relief may be available to victims of entrapment
Both federal investigators and law enforcement officers in Washington State rely on sting operations and other setups to catch people breaking the law. Many sting operations rely on Stings are about as old as standing police forces, and society justifies them as ways...
What is a collateral attack to challenge a conviction?
In Washington State, people who have been convicted of a criminal offense and are facing penalties because of it may want to think about their options to challenge the decision. This is not necessarily limited to appeals which are frequently based on some type of...
Man convicted of murder loses appeal, but still has options
Violent crimes happen all-too frequently in Washington State. People want to feel safe and trust law enforcement and the court system to deal with those who have been accused of committing violent felonies like rape and murder. While the goal is to penalize people who...
What happens when you appeal a criminal conviction?
Although millions of criminal cases in America are resolved via plea agreements these days, there are still many cases that go all the way to trial. A trial could be a “bench” trial, meaning that the judge is the only one to hear evidence and make a decision, or it...
Post-conviction relief possible for simple drug possession cases
In Washington State, drugs are one of the most common reasons for which people are arrested and convicted. While this often relates to high-level activities with manufacturing, trafficking and distribution, those who have a small amount in their possession were also...