Tag Archives: Whatcom County Criminal Defense Attorney

Threats To Federal Judges, Prosecutors Soaring

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According to an article for Washington Post, threats against the nation’s judges and prosecutors have sharply increased, prompting hundreds to get 24-hour protection from armed U.S. marshals.  Many federal judges are altering their routes to work, installing security systems at home, shielding their addresses by paying bills at the courthouse or refraining from registering to vote.  Some even pack weapons on the bench.

Much of the concern was fueled by the slaying of U.S. District Judge Joan H. Lefkow’s husband and mother in their Chicago home in 2005 and a rampage 11 days later by an Atlanta rape suspect, who killed a judge, the court stenographer and a deputy. Last year, several pipe bombs exploded outside the federal courthouse in San Diego, and a drug defendant wielding a razor blade briefly choked a federal prosecutor during sentencing in Brooklyn, N.Y. In March, a homicide suspect attacked a judge in a California courtroom and was shot to death by police.

Although attacks have not recently increased, threats have.  Law enforcement is taking action to prevent these threats from happening.  The threats are emerging in cases large and small, on the Internet, by telephone, in letters and in person.

Worried federal officials blame disgruntled defendants whose anger is fueled by the Internet; terrorism and gang cases that bring more violent offenders into federal court; frustration at the economic crisis; and the rise of the “sovereign citizen” movement — a loose collection of tax protesters, white supremacists and others who don’t respect federal authority.

My opinion?   On a nation-wide level, people are scared.  They fear losing their jobs in a tough economy.  They fear losing their socio-economic standing in a nation undergoing dramatic changes (remember, gun sales have increased since Obama took office).  When fear increases, people tend to blame one particular individual or group as the reason for their problems.   Unfortunately, in the criminal justice system, judges and prosecutors are often the very individuals who get blamed.

Don’t blame judges and prosecutors.  They’re just doing their jobs.

The solution?  Defendants should seek legal representation from attorneys who (1) maintain good relations with judges/prosecutors, and (2) file Affidavits of Prejudice against judges who might hold biases towards the case.  Under Washington statute, any party may establish prejudice by filing a motion, supported by affidavit, that the judge before whom the action is pending is prejudiced to the degree that the party cannot, or believes he cannot, have a fair and impartial trial before such judge.  Once the Affidavit of Prejudice is entered, that particular judge cannot make any decisions on your case from that point forward.

I file Affidavits of Prejudice on a consistent basis.  Indeed, I would be ineffective if I didn’t!  I took an oath to bring justice to my clients using every tool and technique at our disposal.  Your attorney should do the same.  If not – or if you don’t know – then talk with them.  How well does your attorney know the judges and prosecutors they work with?  How willing are they to file Affidavits of Prejudice?

Go to www.avvo.com to research attorneys who you may consider hiring.  This free online resource will help streamline your decision-making process.  Good hunting!

Please contact my office if you, a friend or family member are charged with a crime. Hiring an effective and competent defense attorney is the first and best step toward justice.

State v. Hinshaw: Absent Exigent Circumstances, Cops Can’t Enter Your Home Without a Warrant & Arrest for DUI

911 Call, Constitutional Rights, Corpus Delicti, Due Process, DUI, Exigent Circumstances, Jury Trial, law enforcement, misdemeanor, police, Privacy, Probable Cause, Search and Seizure, Search Warrant, Washington Court of Appeals, , ,

Great opinion.

In State v. Hinshaw, the WA Court of Appeals held that absent Exigent Circumstances, police cannot enter a home without a warrant & arrest for DUI.

Here, the Moses Lake Police investigated reports of a car unlawfully driving on a bike path.  Police search the path.  They find Mr. Hinshaw on a bike close to the path.  He said he was a passenger in the suspect car, but denies driving.  They release him.

Later, the police find the suspect car in his driveway.  It had a flat tire.  They knock on the door.  He answers the door, yet refuses to come out.  He admits to drinking earlier.  Officers grab his arm, go inside of his home, and arrest him for DUI.  They are concerned his BAC level was dissipating.

The Court of Appeals rejected the State’s argument that “exigent circumstances” justified Mr. Hinshaw’s warrantless seizure.  The Court saw several errors in the police officer’s conduct.   First, the officers failed to establish how quickly the BAC would/could dissipate.  Second, the officers could not estimate how long it would take to get a warrant.

Third, although the police had probable cause to believe Mr. Hinshaw became intoxicated and drove home, the reckless operation of the car and consequent threat to public safety had ended.  Mr. Hinshaw was neither armed nor dangerous.  He posed no threat to the public or officers.  His car was disabled.  Consequently, exigent circumstances did not exist.

My opinion?  Great opinion!  The Court of Appeals saw through the State’s smoke and mirrors.  This was not a case about exigent circumstances.  An emergency never existed!  No, this was a bona-fide; unlawful exercise of “arrest first, ask questions later” on the part of the police.  Clearly unlawful.  Kudos to the Court of Appeals.

Please contact my office if you, a friend or family member are charged with a crime. Hiring an effective and competent defense attorney is the first and best step toward justice.

 

White House Czar Calls for End to ‘War on Drugs’

Constitutional Rights, Drug Offenses, , ,

Unbelievable.  Awesome sign of the times.  Gil Kerlikowske, the new White House drug czar, signaled Wednesday his openness to rethinking the government’s approach to fighting drug use.

The Obama administration’s new drug czar says he wants to banish the idea that the U.S. is fighting “a war on drugs,” a move that would underscore a shift favoring treatment over incarceration in trying to reduce illicit drug use.

“Regardless of how you try to explain to people it’s a ‘war on drugs’ or ‘war on product,’ people see a war as a war on them,” he said.  We’re not at war with people in this country.

Mr. Kerlikowske’s comments are a signal that the Obama administration is set to follow a more moderate — and likely more controversial — stance on the nation’s drug problems.  Prior administrations talked about pushing treatment and reducing demand while continuing to focus primarily on a tough criminal-justice approach.

My thoughts?  IT’S ABOUT TIME a U.S. drug czar made sense!!!

True story on Kerlikowske: I was living in Seattle when a big snow came.  Attending law school.  Walking around downtown Seattle with a friend.  A black SUV rolls by.  Stops by a car that was stuck in the snow.  Two police officers get out.  One looks highly decorated.  Both officers  push the skidding car off the ice.  It drives away, freed from its frozen trap.

I immediately recognized the decorated officer as then-Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske.  I say, “Yo man, that was cool!”  He smiles, salutes, and jumps back into the SUV.  Drives away.

As far as police officers go, Kerlikowske was a good one.  Had his head on straight.  Gained respect from Seattle’s black community.  He was an advocate, a reasonable guy, and bridged ideological differences.  Obama chose right.

Please contact my office if you, a friend or family member are charged with a crime. Hiring an effective and competent defense attorney is the first and best step toward justice.

Voting Rights Restored!

ACLU, Constitutional Rights, felony, Legislation, Race & Law, Voting Rights, , ,

Thank you to all who took action on HB 1517!  This important measure will automatically restore the right to vote to citizens who were entangled with the criminal justice system.

Governor Chris Gregoire signed the bill into law on Monday, May 4, 2009.  The new law will reform Washington’s convoluted and unfair system for restoring voting rights.

Washington now becomes the 20th state in the last decade to ease voting restrictions for people with criminal histories who are living, working and raising families in the community.  Our victory is part of a nationwide movement to assure that our democracy reflects the voices of American citizens.

Let freedom ring.

Please contact my office if you, a friend or family member are charged with a crime. Hiring an effective and competent defense attorney is the first and best step toward justice.

DOC: Budget Cuts Will Force Offenders To Go Unsupervised

Department of Corrections, Violent Crime, , ,

It appears the Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary Eldon Vail says the DOC will stop supervising 9,000 people due to decreased state budgets.  The group includes property, drug, and non violent offenders.  The most violent offenders and high-level sex offenders, however, will not see a change in supervision or management.  Additionally, inmate beds will be reduced.  One DOC prison will also be closed.

Some worry that crime will increase.

My opinion?  Again, the embattled economy has caught up with the criminal justice system.  It’s interesting what happens when we’re forced to tighten our belts, both individually and collectively.  On an individual level, we spend less on luxury items.  We hope that our sacrifices are enough to pull us through hard times.  If not, we consider more drastic measures, and perhaps (gasp) a total retooling of our spending habits.

Collectively, our weakened economy makes our lawmakers to realize that jailing low-level crimes is an expensive luxury.  I’ve often blogged that incarceration is THE MOST EXPENSIVE solution to crime and punishment.  We can’t afford to blindly warehouse people any more.  It isn’t the answer.

Please contact my office if you, a friend or family member are charged with a crime. Hiring an effective and competent defense attorney is the first and best step toward justice.

Study: Drug, Driving Charges Sap Nation’s Courts

Court Fines, Department of Licensing, Drug Offenses, Due Process, DUI, law enforcement, marijuana, misdemeanor, police, Probable Cause, Reckless Driving, Search and Seizure, Studies, Terry Stop, Traffic Infractions, , ,

According to a Seattle Times article, low-level drug and driving charges are a financial burden for misdemeanor courts.

My opinion?  As a former public defender (and proud of it), I was dismayed when defendants were prosecuted and jailed on Driving While License Suspended charges.  Indeed, defending these kinds of cases exposed me to some ugly truths about the criminal justice system.

Here’s a typical situation: “Speeder” gets pulled over for speeding.  Speeder can’t afford to pay the ticket.  They miss their court date.  Court gives them a “Failure to Appear” for missing said court date.  The Department of Licensing catches wind.  Speeder’s license gets suspended.   He is now Speeder-Turned-Suspended Licensee (STSL).

Eventually STSL get pulled over – and possibly arrested – on the suspended license.  If STSL is lucky, police officer won’t (1) investigate STSL for DUI, and/or (2) search STSL’s car following the arrest.  If unlucky, STSL might have had a couple of drinks before being pulled over.  They get investigated for DUI.  Or STSL has contraband tucked away in the glove compartment that gets discovered on the search.

All of the sudden, “Speeder” is now a criminal.

The grinding wheels of justice.  Steel jaws gnashing away at people’s rights.  Police using a suspended license as probable cause to arrest you and search your car.  Unbelievable.

Now, more than ever, change is necessary.  King County has implemented a program which simultaneously circumvents the criminal justice system and allows people get their licenses back.  Legal fees are waived if people successfully complete it.  The program is a success.  And it costs less than prosecuting/jailing people.

There’s more.  In 2007, the study’s authors found, 11,553 misdemeanor marijuana cases were filed.  Of those, 3,638 convictions were made, which resulted in about $7.6 million in direct costs to the state.

Again, unbelievable.  Taxpayers subsidize these enormous costs.  However, most people believe small-time drug cases should NOT be prosecuted.  Remember Seattle Initiative I-75?  The measure – which passed successfully in 2003 – directed police officers and prosecutors to treat the personal use of marijuana by adults as the city’s lowest law enforcement priority.

It’s time our court system caught up with the will of the people.

Please contact my office if you, a friend or family member are charged with a crime. Hiring an effective and competent defense attorney is the first and best step toward justice.

‘How can you defend those people?’

Constitutional Rights, Jury Trial, , ,

Great article discusses why defense attorneys continue to zealously defend people accused of crime.

People ask me the above question quite often.  My answer?  Everyone deserves the right to a fair trial.  It’s simply un-American to assume people are guilty, lock them up, and throw away the key.  There are times when the Prosecutor’s facts are weak.  Witnesses lack credibility.  Constitutional rights are tossed aside as police search cars, raid homes, and generally use people’s statements against them at trial.

My role is to make sure the process functions correctly.  No, it’s not easy work.  But it’s incredibly fulfilling.

Please contact my office if you, a friend or family member are charged with a crime. Hiring an effective and competent defense attorney is the first and best step toward justice.

State v. Carneh: Why Defense Attorneys Should Seek Dismissals WITH Prejudice

Dismissal, Washington Court of Appeals, , ,

In State v. Carneh, the WA Court of Appeals decided the Prosecution could refile charges on a defendant after previously dismissing the case without prejudice. 

Typically, prosecutors dismiss cases in one of two ways: with prejudice, or without prejudice.   Dismissing a case with prejudice means prosecutors cannot refile future charges against the defendant.  However, dismissing  without prejudice means the prosecutor may, in the future, refile charges at time if (1) statute of limitations has not expired, (2) jurisdiction still exists, and (3) prosecutors develop substantial probable cause to refile. 

In this case, the State charged Carneh with four counts of aggravated murder in March 2001.  After extensive and periodically successful competency restoration treatment, the trial court ultimately dismissed the case without prejudice because it found Carneh was incompetent to stand trial at that time.  The State refiled charges after learning that Carneh had shown signs of improvement.  The trial court ordered further competency restoration.

RCW 10.77.086 provides that if competency restoration efforts are ultimately unsuccessful, “the charges shall be dismissed without prejudice, and either civil commitment proceedings shall be instituted or the court shall order the release of the defendant.”  After a trial court dismisses charges without prejudice pursuant to this statute, it loses the criminal jurisdiction and with it the authority to order competency evaluation or restoration.  But the statute reserves the prosecutor’s ability to refile charges and makes clear that the bar against trying incompetent defendants lasts only so long as such incapacity continues.

The prosecutor’s ability to refile is not unfettered; rather, the prosecutor must have a good faith basis to believe that competency has or will likely be restored.  In this case, the prosecutor received a letter from Western State Hospital indicating that Carneh’s condition had improved.  The letter was sufficient good faith basis to refile.  The trial court thereby reacquired criminal jurisdiction and with it the authority to order further competency restoration.  Ouch!!

My opinion?  Division II made a painfully reasonable  decision.  Competent defense attorneys should know that prosecutors may refile charges at any time if a case is dismissed without prejudice.  The remedy?  Whenever possible, defense attorneys should seek dismissals with prejudice. 

True, our knee-jerk reaction is, quite simply, to take a dismissal in any form or fashion.  We’re grateful to get them for our clients, and nobody wants to look a gift horse in the mouth.   Still, a dismissal without prejudice obviously comes with strings attached.  Indeed, worst-case scenario like State v. Carneh could arise. 

Please contact my office if you, a friend or family member are charged with a crime. Hiring an effective and competent defense attorney is the first and best step toward justice.

New Findings: Decline in Black Incarceration for Drug Offenses

Department of Corrections, Drug Offenses, Jail, Legislation, marijuana, Race & Law, Studies, , ,

For the first time in 25 years, since the inception of the “War on Drugs,” the number of African Americans incarcerated is state prisons for drug offenses has declined substantially.  According to a recent study released by The Sentencing Project, there exists a 21.6% drop in the number of blacks incarcerated for a drug offense.  This presents a decline of 31,000 people during the period 1999-2005.

Why the decrease?  The study shows that many states are softening their approach to crime by reconsidering overly punitive sentencing on defendants.  Diversionary programs are also being re-examined.  The changing approach is, not surprisingly, inspired by fiscal concerns.  Policymakers recognize that skyrocketing corrections costs cut into public support for higher education and other vital services.

Second, at the federal level, the U.S. Sentencing Commission has enacted changes in the sentencing guidelines for crack cocaine offenses, and members of Congress are considering proposals to reform the mandatory penalties for crack offenses.

My opinion?  Ironically, the economic recession has spurred positive changes in the criminal justice system.  Many lawmakers realize the foolishness behind incarcerating people for low-level drug offenses.  Also, I believe the “War on Drugs” has changed tactics.  Nowadays, police are more interested in busting defendants for methamphetamine (meth) than crack cocaine.  Meth is considered  a much larger risk to public safety and health.

Meth is also largely used/possessed by non-minorities.   This is partially because most meth labs are found in rural destinations; which have more Caucasians, and not so much in the inner city, where more minorities dwell.

Please contact my office if you, a friend or family member are charged with a crime. Hiring an effective and competent defense attorney is the first and best step toward justice.

State v. Sutherby: Great Case Regarding Improper Prosecution and Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Assault, Constitutional Rights, Ineffective Assistance, Prosecutorial Misconduct, Rape, Sentencing, Sex Crimes, Unit of Prosecution, Washington Supreme Court, , ,

In State v. Sutherby, the WA Supreme Court threw out a Rape of a Child conviction for improper prosecution and ineffective counsel. Shortly before Christmas 2004, the Sutherby’s five-year-old granddaughter (“L.K.”) stayed with them for two nights at their Grays Harbor home. Based on the girl’s accusations, Mr. Sutherby was arrested and charged with multiple sex offenses to include first degree rape of a child and first degree child molestation.

A subsequent search of his personal computer found child pornography, and he was charged with 10 counts of possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He was convicted by a jury on all counts and appealed.

The Court here considered two issues: “(1) what is the proper unit of prosecution for possession of child pornography under former RCW 9.68A.070 (1990), and (2) did Sutherby receive ineffective assistance of counsel due to his trial attorney’s failure to seek a severance of the child rape and molestation charges from the possession of child pornography charges?”

Sutherby argued that he should have been sentenced on only one count of possession of child pornography under the criminal statute, formerly RCW 9.68A.070, rather that separate counts for each image. The court noted that the U.S. and Washington constitutions both protect a defendant from being punished more than once for the same offense. The statute provided “[a] person who knowingly possesses visual or printed matter depicting a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct is guilty of a class C felony.”

The court said that “any” is vague, and determined defendants who possess multiple images should only be charged with a single count of possession. The court remanded the sentencing of Sutherby for a single count of possession.

Sutherby also sought reversal of his convictions for child rape and child molestation based on his trial attorney’s failure to move for severance of the child pornography counts from these charges. As the court noted, severance of charges is important when there is a risk that the jury will use the evidence of one crime to infer the defendant’s guilt for another crime or to infer a general criminal disposition.

The case against Sutherby for possession of child pornography was strong, and could have influenced the jury on the rape and molestation charges. The court agreed that Sutherby demonstrated ineffective assistance of counsel based on his trial attorney’s failure to seek severance of the charges. The Supreme Court reversed Sutherby’s convictions for child rape and molestation and remanded for retrial.

My opinion?  Yes, society HATES sex crimes; especially when children are possibly involved.  Here, however, the Supremes correctly looked beyond the nature of the crime and addressed how the case was botched by the Prosecutor and defense attorney alike.  Clearly, the Supremes sent a message: stacking charge after charge is, simply, unconstitutional.  Multiple images does not = multiple charges!  We creep into the realm of  unlawful Double Jeopardy.

Additionally, State v. Sutherby teaches defense attorneys about ineffective assistance of counsel.  Oftentimes, prosecutors will try adding additional charges on totally unrelated events before trial.  This tactic, if successfully done, makes juries suspicious that the defendant “must be a bad person, otherwise they wouldn’t have acquired all these criminal charges.”

In other words, the juries become prejudiced toward the defendant, and might decide the cases accordingly.  This type of outcome kills justice.  Defense attorneys must avoid sloppiness and BE CAREFUL.  We cannot allow the State to unfairly prejudice our clients at the 11th hour before trial.

Please contact my office if you, a friend or family member are charged with a crime. Hiring an effective and competent defense attorney is the first and best step toward justice.