We often discuss the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The amendment protects the people against unreasonable search and seizure. It does this by demanding that law enforcement obtain a search warrant from a judge prior to allowing a search of a person, their...
Protecting Your Rights Throughout Eastern Iowa Since 1981
Year: 2015
Mortgage fraud accusations can lead to federal charges
Mortgage fraud allegations are something that many different kinds of people can end up facing. Real estate professionals, appraisers and brokers sometimes have such accusations brought against them. However, a person does not have to be a financial or real estate...
Broken taillights: as useful as a search warrant
A man was arrested this week in Cedar Rapids and is now facing multiple drug charges, after police found a meth lab in his vehicle. For this man, if this is his first arrest, is likely to be the beginning of a long struggle with criminal justice system. He will have...
A few seconds matter, especially for police officers
Police officers are sworn to uphold the law. Society grants them many special privileges to enable them to carry out their duties. So it is always interesting to observe the manner in which they are charged with crimes and prosecuted. These cases stand out because...
A matter of no discretion
Federal district court judges are seen by many has having a position of great respect and authority. A lifetime appointment, at a decent salary, at least by most Americans' standards, it is in some sense the pinnacle of many a lawyer's legal career. Only a seat on a...
What’s a protective order?
In a criminal fraud case, either the prosecutors may demand the turnover of documents as part of their investigation, or they may seize records and documents when executing a search warrant. Sometimes, as appears to have happened in a raid in Cedar Rapids, the federal...
Expungements for dismissed charges are reasonable
A criminal conviction carries a stigma in Iowa and elsewhere throughout this country. While jail and prison sentences are the primary punishment for these convictions, anyone convicted of a criminal charge may wear a virtual scarlet letter that may mark them long...
Missed it by much more than a hair
Science in the courtroom is important. Many elements in many criminal cases are dependent on lab tests to confirm a white powder is really cocaine or that some other substance is an illegal Schedule 1 drug. It is necessary when testing the blood of someone accused of...
Deputy in shooting may not have had training
We allow police to carry weapons to enforce the law. Some officers may spend much of their career without having to discharge a weapon while performing their duties, but depending on jurisdiction and whether they work in high-risk areas may influence how often they...
Should marijuana be reclassified to Schedule II?
Having a federal drug conviction on your record is a problem. A felony drug sentence can cause innumerable difficulties for your life. From finding a job and obtaining federal student aid to go to school or just finding some place to live, a drug conviction can derail...