Legal Articles

• Miranda Rights: The Who, What, Where, When and Why
  “You have the right to remain silent.  Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law….” And, so begins many police dramas and legal novels.  Some fans of police dramas believe that a police officer needs to provide every person whom they stop or with whom they speak their Miranda rights.  However, that is not accurate.  The Supreme … more
• Sentencing Guidelines: Fair Sentences or a Denial of Trial by Jury?
  In the 1980s, it became apparent to those in the U.S. government that there were wide sentencing disparities in the United States federal court system.  Defendants who were convicted of very similar crimes were receiving wildly different sentences.  Accordingly, a movement began to develop federal sentencing guidelines.  In addition to providing equitable sentences around the … more