A criminal trial can be broken down into six to seven
major categories, depending on the outcome—an acquittal (a not guilty verdict)
and conviction (a guilty verdict). The categories are: (1) jury selection; (2)
opening statements; (3) presentation of case/evidence; (4) closing statements;
(5) ju...
“I
plead the fifth.”
Whether in real-life legal proceedings or a Hollywood
blockbuster, we have all heard those four little words. Most people are fully
aware of their right not to incriminate themselves in a criminal trial. It’s a
protection guaranteed to us under the Fifth Amendment of t...
There are several different kinds of theft offenses under Georgia law and each has different elements that need to be proven by the State’s Attorney to get a conviction. Such offenses include: theft by shoplifting, theft of services, theft by conversion, theft by extortion and theft of lost or mi...
Immigration does not drive crime. Studies have shown that there is no correlation between immigrants and increased crime. In fact, studies have shown that crime has decreased as the nation’s immigration population has increased throughout the years. Despite such data, many immigrants do move thro...
Do you have a loved one who is incarcerated in Georgia? Is their jail sentence nearing an end? Are they being considered for parole? Maybe they have six months or so left to serve. If so, your loved one may be eligible for a work-release program, which is different than a prison work program. A wor...
There are different types of crimes such as felonies and misdemeanors. And, there are different classification of crimes such as: specific intent crimes, general intent crimes, malicious crimes and strict liability crimes. Malicious crimes include crimes such as arson and common law murder. Regulat...
“A defendant has a constitutional right to a fair hearing and reliable determination of the voluntariness of a confession, not influenced by its truth or falsity.” Jackson v. Denno, 378 U. S. 376-377 (1964).
FACTS OF THE CASE
In June of 1960, Nathan Jackson and Nora Elliot entered a Bro...
For most of us, when the “government” and “wiretapping” are mentioned in the same sentence, a couple of individual comes to mind—J. Edgar Hoover being one of them (Nixon, the other). We have all heard about “Hoover’s Secret Files” and numerous illegal microphones and wiretaps that H...
Remember your teenage and college days? The days when
you or your peers made downright stupid decisions and that—if caught—could have
landed you in handcuffs. I remember being in college and hanging out at the
local midnight diner. One night, a group of other college students were sitting
next ...
Generally, there are two types of evidence presented
during a trial—direct evidence and circumstantial evidence. Under the Rules of
Evidence, there is no legal distinction between the two. In the movies and in
real life, we have often heard defense attorneys attack their opponent’s case
by argu...
There is no doubt that opening and closing arguments are important stages of a jury trial.
But, it is the process of voir dire that gives an attorney the opportunity to
pull the truth out about a juror’s beliefs and biases. In fact, the phrase
“voir dire” derives from a Middle French oath mea...
“It
is impossible to be sure of anything but death and taxes.”
We have all heard this saying before. In fact, it was
first said during the dawn of the 18th century and is now a common idiom
in our English language. Here at Bixon Law, we have discovered another truism
in life—people fight,...
If you were arrested and
made bail but failed to appear in court, you could be facing a bail jumping
charge for violating the conditions of your bail. But, maybe you simply just
missed your court date or maybe your absence from court was due to
circumstances beyond your control. If you are question...
The state of Georgia has
various gun licensing requirements. Such laws outline when a person needs a
license to carry a handgun, where a person can carry a handgun and the
penalties for violating Georgia’s gun laws. There are also certain types of
firearms that are prohibited in the state of Geor...
With the Christmas
holiday over, retailers are now processing thousands of returns. People are
returning unwanted appliances, too little sweaters, too big shoes and other
items for various reasons. Items are being returned online and also,
traditionally, by people standing in long lines at Walmart,...
You are facing a robbery conviction and you have questions.
First, you are wondering if you can be charged with robbery if you didn’t use a
weapon? Second, all you did was snatch the woman’s purse and ran. How can you
be charged with robbery without using any force or making any threats? Third,...
While many cases involving juveniles are handled by the Juvenile Court system, there are some that are transferred to Superior Court where a child under the age of 17 can be tried as an adult. If you visit the Georgia Department of Corrections website, you can view the profiles of juveniles (both m...
“Freeway” Ricky Ross, Demetrius and Terry Flenory and Frank
Lucas are among some of America’s most famous drug lords. Another fact that
they all have in common is that they were introduced to the world of drugs as
minors. “Freeway” Ricky Ross has reportedly said that he was introduced to
...
LifeLock.
We have all seen the commercials, advertising their
identify-theft protection services. “LifeLock looks for use of your personal
information, and with proprietary technology, alerts you to a wide range of
potential threats to your identity,” according to the company’s website. And,
...
Despite
public opinion these days, the job of law enforcement officers is to serve and
protect the communities which they police. Therefore, when crimes are committed
against people in the community, it is law enforcement’s duty to investigate
such crimes in a fair and unbiased manner. However, w...
Michael Bixon is a life-long believer in making the best of any situation and looking forward to a bright future. He brings that same philosophy to his practice and focus in helping people facing insurmountable circumstances. For Michael, going out of his way for his clients, being available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and ensuring they receive just representation is the only way to operate his practice.
Have you been charged with aggravated sexual battery? And, if so, are you having trouble understanding the difference between sexual battery vs. aggravated sexual battery? Or, why a sexual battery charge might be el...
Going through a divorce can be tough for all parties and things can get right down nasty—especially when minor children are involved. One parent may want full custody and the other joint custody. Deciding who gets the...
If you didn’t hear about the cash storm on I-285 back in July, I am going to guess you’ve been living under the proverbial rock. It was literally raining money! Dozens of Atlanta drivers pulled over on the highway t...
