Fort Lauderdale Legal Blog
If you’re caught selling or using drugs, you’re in a precarious position. You need to make sure you defend yourself from the moment you’re accused. Florida has special laws regarding drug distribution. First of all, Florida laws prohibit drug trafficking. Many offenses are felonies and can lead to time in prison. Drug trafficking is prosecuted as a first-degree felony. It can…
Six students at a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, school have been charged with a felony. One is facing grand theft of a motor vehicle and the other five are facing aggravated battery for beating up another student. The incident began when one student allegedly stole a teacher’s car keys, taking her vehicle for a joy ride. The student, 13, only made…
Whether during a routine traffic stop or an emergency call, the next time you find yourself interacting with a law enforcement official here in Florida, you may notice that they are carrying an entirely new piece of equipment. Indeed, this equipment has nothing to do with investigation or apprehension, but rather capturing interactions. Specifically, you may notice the officer or…
Now that spring break season is officially here, thousands of college students will be heading to the airport or hitting the road in the coming weeks, heading to those spots with sunny skies, warm temperatures and, of course, festive atmospheres. While for many young people this will mean a trip right here to Florida, the destination of choice for many…
Back in January, our blog reported on a historic decision by the Supreme Court of the United States in Hurst v. Florida, a case examining the constitutionality of the state’s death sentencing system. Specifically, the case revolved around how state law then-provided that juries in capital murder cases had to recommend either a sentence of life in prison without the…
A few years ago, Florida expanded its list of banned illegal substances in efforts to crack down on the prevalence of synthetic drugs. It looks like other states have begun taking notice of the assumed positive effects the expansion has had in the Sunshine State. This week the Associated Press reports that New York looks to do the same to curb instances…
As we’ve made clear in previous discussions on our blog, those convicted of sex crimes here in Florida face a host of consequences outside of a prison sentence, fines and permanent criminal record. Indeed, they face potential lifetime registration with the state, a societal stigma that will make it difficult to find employment and residency restrictions that can greatly complicate…
As we’ve made clear in previous posts, the war on drugs is still going strong here in Florida, with law enforcement looking to intercept supply existing lines, prevent the entrenchment of dealers and stop the proliferation of new substances. What this means is that prosecutors will almost always pursue the harshest possible charges against defendants and frequently prove unwilling to…
If you have been charged with driving under the influence or issued a citation for a very serious traffic offense, you might not necessarily be surprised to learn that your driver’s license has been suspended for up to 12 months. What may come as a surprise, however, is to learn that your driver’s license has been suspended as punishment for…
Any time a child or an adult is the victim of a sexually-related crime, the media, law enforcement officers and the public can immediately turn against the person who is accused of committing the offense. Even though every person in the U.S. is innocent until proven guilty, it can be hard to remember this when everyone seems to have turned…