Recent Blog Posts
Florida Passes New Standards for Eyewitness Identification Methods and Testimony
Many times when a criminal defendant is being charged with a crime, the most damning evidence against him or her is the eyewitness. In our country, we place a significant amount of weight on people’s abilities to perceive an event. Misidentification is More Common than Originally Thought According to the Innocence Project, eyewitness misidentification… Read More »
Non-English Speaking Defendants: What are their Rights?
For most people who have little to no experience in the criminal justice system, it can be frightening to go to court for the first time, whether it be criminal or civil trial. The terminology can be confusing, the procedure strict and seemingly unfair, and you never know the full extent of the consequences… Read More »
The Complexities of Double Jeopardy
The George Zimmerman case brought to light a significant number of complex legal issues that have made many more fascinated (and possibly confused) at how the criminal justice system works. The Zimmerman case is most well-known for the imposition of the “Stand Your Ground” law that has been at the forefront of Florida’s legal… Read More »
Unlawful Search And Seizure
Information from questionable informants, drug dog hits on property and items seized from homes are all the types of evidence people try to keep out of court by claiming the search and seizure was not valid. Ft. Lauderdale lawyer Kevin J. Kulik, PA has spent time as a state’s attorney and has experience working… Read More »
Medical Necessity Doctrine: How Defendants May Protect Themselves from Being Prosecuted for their Use of Medical Marijuana
In November, Florida voters will be able to make a statutory change to the Florida’s current drug laws, more specifically the legalization of medical marijuana. This would have an immense impact on drug laws and their criminalization within the state. The Governor just signed into force the Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014, which… Read More »
Death Row Inmates Are Now Required to Appeal Their Death Sentences
In a recent case decided this year, defendants’ rights (and the attorneys who represent them) may be overridden by procedures mandated by Florida statutes. The Florida Supreme Court decided this last July that a death row inmate must seek an appeal, as required by statute, even though the death row inmate has no desire… Read More »
From “Frye” to “Daubert”: How New Expert Testimony Rules Can Affect Your Case
In any criminal and civil case, both parties are able to bring admissible evidence into court to help prove that their side of the story is more likely than not to happen. Though civil and criminal cases have different standards for how convincing the evidence must be before a sentence or judgment is put… Read More »
Troubled Twins? New DNA Method May Finally Reveal the Good Twin from the Bad
Technological advancements in our society have changed the way trials are held, and the admissibility of this new technology as evidence may increase the probability of charging the guilty and releasing the innocent. The most recent technological advancement in DNA testing might be used in Boston for the first time in the U.S. In… Read More »
“Homelessness” is a Protected Class under Florida’s Hate Crime Legislation
When one thinks of “hate crime,” one usually thinks about an assault committed against a member of a vulnerable community; generally an offense related to a racial, gendered, ethnic, disability, or sexual orientation prejudice. Nationwide, any offense that is found to be a hate crime carries with it significantly harsher sentences for the offenders…. Read More »
Disgruntled Employees: The New Wave of Intellectual Property Offenders?
The technology renaissance has given private individuals and corporations alike the opportunity to use sophisticated technology in their everyday, personal and business lives. The amount of incredible ways that this technology may be utilized daily has made it an incredible resource, as well as a terrifying enemy depending, on who is manipulating the equipment…. Read More »