Attorney

Is sloppiness enough to justify murder conviction?

Published on: March 30, 2017 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “If I have an outstanding warrant, what should I do?”

A big case that gripped the nation several years ago has finally come to a close. The case, against the owner and head pharmacist at the New England Compounding Center, garnered tremendous public attention after a fungal meningitis outbreak back in 2012 resulted in injuries to hundreds and death to 64 people. It turned out that tainted injections from the NECC, a compounding pharmacy located outside of Boston, were responsible. In a surprise to many, prosecutors went after the owner not only for things like racketeering and mail fraud, but also charged him with 25 counts of second-degree murder.

Death Penalty on the Decline

Published on: December 29, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “Should I ever plead guilty to a charge?”

Though there’s been surprisingly little coverage, experts say that this year appears to serve as yet more proof that American’s interest in using the death penalty as an instrument of criminal punishment may be in decline. There’s been no specific legal or legislative reason for the shift, but those who follow the issue closely say it’s clear society has begun to change, slowly at first and now more quickly, leading to a potentially important evolution in the criminal justice system.

The Rights You’ll Forfeit by not Calling Your DWI Attorney Over the Holidays

Published on: December 1, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Charlotte DWI Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “What steps should I be taking outside legal guidance to help my DWI case?”

With so many holidays right around the corner, we wanted to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the imperative of calling your attorney immediately if you are arrested or face new criminal charges this holiday season.

Man Recycles Plot from Seinfeld for $1000 in Bottle Refunds, Gets Hit With Felony

Published on: August 9, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony?”

After a plot straight from the popular sitcom Seinfeld went awry, a Michigan man is facing five (5) years in prison for a felony count of beverage return of non-refundable bottles.

Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian, Kanye West and the criminal implications of secret recordings

Published on: July 19, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony?”

For pop culture junkies the Taylor Swift/Kanye West feud dates back a long way, to 2009, to be precise. It was then that Kanye stormed the MTV VMA stage, interrupting Swift’s acceptance speech. The episode garnered tremendous media attention, an outpouring of support for Taylor and scorn for Kanye. The two stars have had several run-ins since, with Swift penning a few thinly-veiled songs about Kanye and Kanye continuing to court controversy.

Hookup Aps And Potential Criminal Charges Connected With HIV/STI Transmission

Published on: April 26, 2016 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Charlotte Criminal Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: “I was found not guilty of a charge, buy my record still shows the charge. What is going on?”

Anyone who has been in the dating pool recently has likely noticed a change from years past. Where previously, you might have to wait to be introduced to someone by a mutual friend or happen upon a stranger in a bar, today, things move much more quickly. Technology has impacted our romantic lives to the same extent it has many other facets and dating/hook-up apps can lead to some troubling consequences, even occasionally, with criminal impact.

Visiting child’s school will now necessitate fingerprinting, criminal background checks

Published on: May 14, 2015 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Charlotte DWI Lawyer Brad Smith answers: A past conviction is keeping me from finding work what can I do?

The mother of a Pennsylvania third grader has learned, in an indirect way, the ages-old axiom that “good facts make bad law.”

Security agency may have ability to make searchable transcript of all phone conversations

Published on: May 5, 2015 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

J. Bradley Smith of Arnold & Smith, PLLC answers the question “Should I talk to the police?”

Nothing on the internet ever really goes away, conventional tech wisdom holds. A person types out an email and hits “Send,” and the words can never be taken back; and what’s more—even if the email is deleted, it can be retrieved.

Justices appear poised to strike criminal law due to unconstitutional vagueness

Published on: April 30, 2015 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Charlotte DWI Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: What are the long term effects of being convicted of a crime?

Observers at oral argument before the United States Supreme Court say high-court justices were so confused by provisions of the Armed Career Criminal Act that they appeared poised to declare clauses in the act—or the Act itself—unconstitutionally vague.

Brain research on the cutting edge of criminal-law developments

Published on: April 28, 2015 | On behalf of Arnold & Smith, PLLC

Charlotte DWI Lawyer Brad Smith answers the question: What are the long term effects of being convicted of a crime?

People far older and wiser than me have told me a person can stay young at heart if one never allows oneself to lose the kind of childlike fascination with even the everyday, mundane matters of life. Of course, the older we get, the more jaded we become, the more ordinary things seem, and the greater the tendency becomes to accept the world as it is, to question nothing, to stare straight ahead and move along.