Law-Less: Recent Episodes
jameswr
A discussion about race and corruption within the legal system from an insider. (Disclaimer: This is not legal advice and listening to this podcast does not form an attorney client relationship.)
A 1997 US Supreme Court case allows a person to get sentenced to jail for crimes that the person was acquitted of as long as the acquitted conduct was proven by a preponderance of the evidence. Isn’t this unconstitutional? Listen to find out!
A player for the Coppin State University men’s basketball team was catfished by one of the coaches and compelled into sending sexually explicit photos and messages. Here are the details.
In a criminal case a prosecutor is supposed to provide a defendant or his criminal defense attorney with evidence that is favorable or helpful to their case in addition to other obligatory evidence. Well listen and find out what happened in real life in one of my cases where a prosecutor refused to do this.
Chyna Whitaker is the mother of Daunte Wright Jr. Remember, Daunte Wright Sr. was killed by a Minnesota police officer who thought she was grabbing her taser but instead grabbed her gun and shot him. Attorney Ben Crump represents the family. Whitaker maintains that Crump promised her and her son half of the portions generated by a go fund me account. Crump denies this. Listen for more.
The government is attempting to use artistic expression in the form of rap lyrics as evidence of criminal wrongdoing. However, the 1st amendment of the United States Constitution protects free speech among other things. Should rap lyrics be admissible in court?
A federal court has just ruled that if you force a person to go to an ATM and withdraw money so you can take it from them that’s considered bank robbery even if the ATM is not located on bank property.
Will Smith smacked Chris Rock. Y’all have heard about that and the scandal and the entanglement. But was a crime committed. Understand the legal definition of assault and of battery and of self defense of others!
Police ask for your identification all the time even if you haven’t done anything wrong. They rely on vague county and state codes to do this. But the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals has just provided some clarification that is in your favor. Listen and learn.
Think about it: People are convicted all the time for possessing something illegal. So shouldn’t you really understand what possession really means. It may not sound like the sexiest topic, but it has teeth.
Clarence Thomas is a Supreme Court Justice that admittedly benefitted from the Affirmative Action Program. But once he got to where he is now he wants the door shut and he doesn’t want anyone else to benefit from the program. How convenient.
Most states have legalized the possession and use marijuana in some form. However, under federal law marijuana is considered an illegal Schedule 1 substance, even if you have a medical marijuana card. If your state allows you to possess marijuana with a card can you own a gun? Maybe!!!!
Can the police detain me for longer than necessary to issue a ticket during a routine traffic stop? The Supreme Court says uses a reasonableness standard in answering this question. The question is how long is reasonable?
The Washington Post printed an opinion piece by a law professor that advocated for the special treatment of Greg and Travis McMichael and William “Roddie” Bryan. Here is my take.
No knock warrants are used in many states and in many circumstances. The idea is that no knock warrants promote safety to the officers executing the warrants and they are used to preserve any evidence that may be destroyed. However, the use of no knock warrants has proven to be controversial because it results in the death of people that the police are searching for and innocent bystanders like Amir Locke and Breonna Taylor.
Your home is your castle and you should be able to live in peace without the police entering your home. However there a certain exceptions that allow the police to enter your home without a warrant. You must understand what you can do to prevent this and how to fight warrantless entries.
There’s a common belief that if you’re a felon you’re not allowed to own a weapon. That’s at least the case under federal law. However, most states offer different procedures for felons to have gun rights restored. Some states are more difficult than others. But, there is hope.
The legal saga of rapper Fat Trel is an example of how the separate systems of justice come together at a time of inconvenience.
Ghost Guns are legal firearms without serial numbers. How is this legal since the Feds use serial numbers to track firearms? Understand the loophole that allows you to build a gun in your own home that’s untraceable.
Police only need probable cause to search your vehicle. However, police need a warrant to search your home or the area (curtilage) around your home to include your front/back yard and driveway. But what if your car is parked in your driveway. Does probable cause apply to a vehicle search or do police need a warrant?
In general, in order for the police to pull you over, detain you, question you etc. they must have a reasonable suspicion that a crime is taking place. In essence they must be able to articulate a basis for the reasonable suspicion. However, when a police officer only has a hunch that That a crime is taking place without any reasonable basis he can only observe. If he acts on a hunch that he’s violating your civil rights. This podcast goes into a specific case that describes in layman‘s terms what a hunch really is and how it differs from reasonable suspicion.
The Supreme Court has held the police can lie to suspects during an investigation to earn a confession. However, can the police used forged documents?
Do people of color get sentenced to longer prison terms for committing the same crimes as white people? Listen to these facts and you decide.
Marilyn Mosby is now facing federal charges for false statements and perjury related to a mortgage application and COVID-19 early withdrawal from her retirement savings. She’s been the target of Maryland governor Larry Hogan for years. Hogan has made clear his aspirations for running for president. Is this politics or is this personal? Is Governor Hogan behind this his job?
Reasonable Suspicion and Probable Cause are legal concepts used by police to detain, search and arrest you. You should know what these terms mean and how they apply to you!
You get pulled over for a routine traffic stop. The officer approaches your vehicle and demands you and your passengers exit your vehicle during the traffic stop. The Supreme Court says this is allowed. I’ll explain why.
Police officers do not violate your Fourth amendment rights by merely approaching you on the street and asking you if you are willing to answer some questions. However this encounter can turn non-consensual based on a number of factors and if you are detained without reasonable suspicion your 4th Amendment rights are violated.
Jackie Johnson is the former Ahmaud Arbery prosecutor that instructed the Glynn County Police Department not to arrest Gregory or Travis McMichael or William Bryan. This decision was based on her former working relationship in her office with Gregory McMichael. She also urged a subsequent prosecutor to do the same. As a result she’s been charged with violation of oath of a public officer and obstruction in hindering a law-enforcement officer.
Between 2015 and 2020 Wisconsin police officer Joseph Mensah killed 3 people in the line of duty. Even though he was cleared of any wrong doing the killings were done under suspicious circumstances. Is he just a police officer doing his job or is he a serial killer?
James Williams was celebrating New Years Eve with his family. The Canton, Ohio police thought differently and killed him. Police CODE WORD: I was in fear for my life.
Willie Stokes was convicted of murder in 1984. The star witness against him was subsequently convicted of perjury for testimony he gave against Mr. Stokes. This evidence was withheld from Mr. Stokes by the Philadelphia prosecutors.
Strip club owners usually categorize dancers as independent contractors instead of employees. Is this legal?
Bobby Sneed was released on parole from Angola prison in Louisiana on December 10, 2021. Upon his release he was immediately arrested for violating his parole. However, the alleged parole violations were committed before he was on parole.
The Government eased proof of loan eligibility for the PPP LOAN based on the COVID emergency. Some have subsequently been charged w obtaining the loan fraudulently based in its ease. Was this a Government set-up?
A discussion on the subsets of the “System” that are patrolling our neighborhoods. This discussion offers a different way of thinking from a legal insider.