Pretending to be a lawyer?

When I served on the unauthorized practice of law committee of the the State Bar, we had a few of these. People, do your research before you hire a lawyer. It’s as simple as checking the State Bar website to see if they are licensed.

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Texas law that lets cops draw blood without warrant tossed by appeals court

Interesting article in Houston Chronicle: http://dulin.me/1zZv1aV

Lauren McGaughy | November 26, 2014

AUSTIN – Texas law that allows police officers to take blood samples from suspected drunk drivers without a warrant is unconstitutional, the state’s highest criminal court ruled Wednesday.

The ruling could impact Texas’ “no refusal weekends,” including during the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, when officers target suspected drunk drivers and subject them to mandatory breath and blood testing in the field. According to the ruling, law enforcement officers will need to have a warrant in hand before forcing suspects against their to submit to a blood alcohol content test.

“We hold that a nonconsensual search of a DWI suspect’s blood conducted pursuant to the mandatory-blood-draw and implied-consent provisions in the Transportation Code, when undertaken in the absence of a warrant or any applicable exception to the warrant requirement, violates the Fourth Amendment,” Judge Elsa Alcala of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals wrote on behalf of the five majority opinion judges. Four members of the nine-judge court dissented.

The ruling stems from the 2012 case of David Villarreal, who was pulled over in Nueces County for a traffic violation. After refusing to perform sobriety tests in the field, Villarreal was arrested and taken to a local hospital to have his blood drawn against his will and without a warrant. The arresting officer said the move was legal because state law requires the taking of a breath or blood sample of anyone previously convicted two or more times of driving while intoxicated.

The state asked the trial judge to sentence Villarreal, who had been convicted of felony DWI in 2001 and 2005, to at least 25 years in prison. His attorney cited a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said drawing a DWI suspect’s blood without a warrant violated the suspect’s constitutional right against unreasonable search and seizure.

The trial court agreed, saying the blood sample and the evidence it produced that Villarreal’s blood alcohol content of .16 was inadmissible. The state unsuccessfully appealed, kicking the case up to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the state’s highest court for criminal cases.

Villareal’s attorney, Fred Jimenez, said that while he is pleased with the ruling, it will not mean police officers no longer will be allowed to take blood and breath samples against a DWI suspect’s will. They just need to ensure they have a warrant first.

“We’re not going to see the end of no refusal weekends, but the procedure has changed,” he said. “All it is, is a ruling that they cannot use the blood test that they obtained without a warrant. That’s all it is. They can still try my client. It’s a weaker case without that evidence. There’s a videotape of my client, and he looks good on the videotape.”

A spokesman said Nueces County District Attorney Mark Skurka was reading the opinion and had no immediate comment.

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Lee D. Cox is committed to pursuing the truth for every criminal defendant in order to ensure that justice is served appropriately. The prosecutor in your case is going to be aggressive in attempting to prove the charges against you. That is why you need a criminal defense attorney who is going to be equally aggressive in defending your rights. If you have been arrested for any of these crimes, you need to contact Lee D. Cox today at 281-762-7345 to schedule your free initial case evaluation.

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Attorney Lee D. Cox specializes in defending individuals charged with a wide range of misdemeanor and felony offenses in the Fort Bend County area. As a former prosecutor, he understands how criminal procedure works in Texas and what is required to mount a successful defense. He can provide the expert legal representation you need to fight a criminal charge for:

If you have been arrested for any of these crimes, you should contact an experienced Texas criminal defense attorney immediately. Never submit to police questioning without an attorney present. You have a constitutional right to have an attorney and police must inform you of this when you are arrested. Request to speak with your Fort Bend County criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible to protect your rights and avoid the possibility of an unjust prosecution.

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Implications of Arrest and Conviction

Being accused of a crime can make it difficult to simply maintain your day-to-day life and a criminal conviction can have even more serious, long-lasting implications. Depending on the nature of your conviction, you may face difficulty finding employment or the threat of termination by your current employer. Juveniles with criminal records may have trouble gaining admittance into college, as well as securing scholarships, grants, and student loans. Certain convictions may result in a loss of additional privileges, such as obtaining a driver’s license or a firearm license in the state of Texas. These are just a few examples and additional repercussions may apply if you are convicted. While being accused of a crime can impose difficulties on your day-to-day life, a conviction will result in even more serious, long-lasting implications.

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Fort Bend County, Texas Criminal Defense Attorney

Facing charges for a criminal offense can be a frightening and stressful experience. Navigating the Texas legal system can be an intimidating prospect and one you should not undertake alone. Hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney allows you to not only protect your rights but also reduce the emotional and financial stress of a pending criminal trial.

GETTING THE HELP YOU NEED

Attorney Lee D. Cox specializes in defending individuals charged with a wide range of misdemeanor and felony offenses in the Fort Bend County area. As a former prosecutor, he understands how criminal procedure works in Texas and what is required to mount a successful defense. He can provide the expert legal representation you need to fight a criminal charge for

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