The Ohio Supreme Court recently clarified Ohio’s self defense law. In a four to three decision in State v. Palmer, the Court granted a new trial for a defendant who was convicted of felonious assault in Clermont County. The Court ruled that the jury in the original...
Criminal Defense
Ohio Sealing And Expungement Law Has Changed Again
Effective October 3, 2023, Ohio has once again changed what can and can’t be sealed and expunged. The two biggest changes involved domestic violence and third degree felonies. Ohio has once again made fourth degree misdemeanor domestic violence convictions...
Ohio’s Constitutional Carry: Why Get A CCW Now?
Over the summer, Ohio changed its gun law, such that an individual no longer needs a CCW license to carry a concealed firearm. This concept is known as constitutional carry. We wrote a blog post about it here. Even though constitutional carry is now the law of the...
Sentencing Hearings: Reasons You Need A Skilled Attorney
The reality of our criminal justice system is that most people who face criminal charges are going to end up being sentenced by a judge. Dismissals and not guilty verdicts are rare. There is an art and science to representing a client at a sentencing hearing. The...
What Are Pretrial Services and Pretrial Supervision?
The majority of courts in Southwest Ohio utilize either a pretrial services division and/or some type of pretrial supervision program. In either instance, they are designed to assist courts in setting bonds and to ensure that defendants with a pending case (or stated...
A Shift in Ohio’s Weapons Under Disability Law
The second amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right for citizens to keep and bear arms. This amendment is highly debated, argued over, and often used as a headline to spark debate during election season. While the right to bear arms is sacred...
What Does A Criminal Trial Look Like?
The vast majority of criminal cases are usually resolved in one of two ways. Most criminal cases resolve through some sort of negotiated plea bargain which results in a guilty plea to one or more offenses. Other cases, though, end with a trial. At trial, your defense...
Ohio Senate Bill 288
Today, Ohio Senate Bill 288 ("SB288") goes into effect. It cleans up Ohio’s sealing law, which has been a little confusing over the years. Instead of requiring a two part-analysis of: 1) eligible offender; and 2) eligible offense, SB288 removes the eligible offender...
Move Over….It’s The Law
Rising temperatures mean more cars on Ohio highways as people hit the road for summer vacations and other warm weather activities. Over the last few years, the Ohio State Highway Patrol has been ramping up the enforcement of a law not always observed by motorists....
Do I Have to Show Up for My Arraignment in Ohio?
The answer depends on the type of crime you were charged with, the court where you were ordered to appear, and whether your lawyer is able to waive your appearance or appear without you. If you have been charged with a criminal or traffic offense, there are likely...