The right to a trial by jury is one of the the oldest recognized by our federal and state constitutions. This right gives some protection from being at the mercy of a government official, who may have his own biases, prejudices, and even loyalties that are not in the best interests of the defendant who is on trial. Jury selection…
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Utah Criminal Defense Attorney
The Right to a Speedy Trial
State v. Younge In State v. Younge, a decision handed down by the Utah Supreme Court on November 22, 2013, the court addressed the right to a speedy trial. In that case the defendant was charged with aggravated sexual assault approximately six years after the act was committed. In 1996, the defendant sexually assaulted a woman. The victim could not…
The Judge Is The Boss When It Comes to Sentencing in Utah
Plea Negotiations and the Judge Any time a criminal defendant enters into a plea of any nature, he is opening himself up to the whims of the judge to decide how he should be sentenced. The judge has ultimate authority and all the discretion in the world when it comes to sentencing in Utah. In some types of cases the…
Selling Alcohol To Minors | Furnishing Alcohol to Minors
The Utah Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control handed out over $20,000.00 in fines last month alone to establishments for selling alcohol to minors. The types of fines and related charges are incredibly common in Utah. In fact, many individuals, not just establishments themselves are charged with furnishing alcohol to minors in Utah. Unsurprisingly, Utah law is tough on these types…
The Dual System of Guilt Determination and Sentencing
When most people think of the criminal justice system they envision a lowly defendant standing before an all powerful judge or magistrate who decides their fate. While it’s true that the judge does hold a lot of power over the defendant there are a couple of things that come into play before a judge ultimately gets to the point of…
Suspending Your License for a Simple Traffic Citation
Utah has a weird law that permits a court to suspend a driver’s license for a simple traffic citation. That means anything: having a headlight out; brake light out; speeding; swerving; having tinted windows too dark; not having mudflaps; running a stop sign; crossing over the stop line before a traffic light; not having your blinker on long enough; and…
Plea in Abeyance in Utah
A Plea in Abeyance in Utah is a certain plea agreement in which the court holds a guilty or no contest plea “in abeyance” for an agreed period of time, (typically at least 12 months), and assuming certain probationary terms are met during that time, the Defendant is not convicted of the crime. This means the court accepts your guilty…
West Valley Officers Now Accused of Stealing Drugs and Money
Following an internal audit of the West Valley Utah Police Department’s Narcotics Unit, certain officers have been found to allegedly stolen drugs and money from individuals they had arrested or investigated. An investigation by the FBI into the West Valley Police Department is pending. Additionally, Salt Lake County opened up their own investigation into the cases following dismissal of several…
Salt Lake City Marijuana Defense Lawyer | Utah Pot Laws
Marijuana charges are extremely common in Utah. Unlike some of the sister states here in the west like Colorado, Oregon, and California, Utah Pot Laws are extremely harsh. If you have been charged with a weed related offense in Utah, you really need to retain the services of a Salt Lake City Marijuana Defense Lawyer to help ensure you do…
St. Patrick’s Day and DUI Blitz by UHP
Today is St. Patrick’s Day and thousands of people across the beehive state have been out all weekend celebrating the beloved Irish holiday. Unfortunately for some, Utah Highway Patrol has already conducted DUI blitzes across Utah arresting some 21 plus individuals throughout Salt Lake and Utah Counties just yesterday evening. Utah Highway Patrol and the various local police forces normally…