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...
Criminal Defense
Do I need a lawyer if I was charged with a crime?
After a person receives a summons or gets arrested, a common question is whether a lawyer is needed. The decision to hire a lawyer is a big one, especially in criminal defense cases. The answer is not a black and white one. A good rule is that whenever there is a...
What is a Pretrial in a Criminal Case?
In most criminal cases, regardless of if they are a misdemeanor or felony, the court date after arraignment (initial appearance in front of the judge) is a called a “pretrial.” Some courts call this a “plea or trial setting.” Regardless of what the court calls it,...
2022 Criminal Defense Success
As this year ends, we proudly share the variety of ways we helped people achieve justice who were accused of crimes over the past 12 months. There is no greater honor than representing another human being. We take pride in ethically and zealously defending the...
Juvenile Found Not Guilty of Rape at Trial
Steve Kilburn recently represented a 16 year old in Juvenile Court who was falsely accused of and charged with rape. The alleged victim in the case was his ex-girlfriend who claimed he raped her before they broke up. There was no physical evidence in the case and the...
IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE EXPERIENCED LEGAL COUNSEL IN TITLE IX HEARINGS – A RECENT CASE EXAMPLE
College campuses are increasingly handling more and more Title IX investigations, complaints, and hearings. Over the years campus authorities have gotten better at organizing investigations and hearings. But the rules keep changing. The Department of Education’s...
Can My Probation Officer Search My Cell Phone Without A Warrant?
If I am on probation, can my probation search my cell phone at any time and for any reason? The answer is yes, if you consented to the search. The Ohio Supreme Court recently ruled a probation officer did not need reasonable grounds to search a cell phone of a...
I Wasn’t Read My Rights. Can I still be convicted of a crime?
Whether it is in a movie or your favorite episode of Law & Order, whenever someone is arrested for an alleged crime, the police always read the individual their Miranda Rights. Those rights include the right to remain silent, the right to an attorney, and the...
Can Law Enforcement Search Your Backpack Without A Warrant?
According to the Ohio Supreme Court, No. In State v. Burroughs, Slip Opinion No. 2022-Ohio-2146, the Court recently held that a specific exception to the warrant requirement, “the single purpose container exception”, applies only when the illegal contents of the...
Ohio’s New “Constitutional Carry” Law
Starting June 12, 2022, Ohio will make a concealed weapons permit optional for anyone legally allowed to carry a gun. Previously, if you wanted to get your concealed carry permit in Ohio, you had to complete 8 hours of training and submit to a background check. That...