Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Major Ruling May Allow PTSD Evidence In ‘Stand Your Ground’ Cases
Florida, among other U.S. states, has a “Stand Your Ground” law on the books. This law holds that a person who reasonably believes they are about to be the victim of force has the right to use that level of force in self defense, with no duty to retreat. Historically, the fear of force… Read More »
Dealing With Addiction In Florida Drug Cases
In recent years, a debate has arisen among scientists and psychologists, as well as legal theorists, as to just how deeply addiction affects a person’s neurology. The general impulse is that while addiction can absolutely play a role in affecting a person’s impulse control and other behaviors that might result in committing a crime,… Read More »
Florida Legislature Seeks To Help Victims Of Domestic Violence Stay Safe
If a person is a victim of domestic violence, they not only have to contend with their abuser threatening their safety, but also with additional factors that can make protecting themselves more difficult. For example, it is sadly not uncommon for a Florida landlord to evict a victim of domestic violence over calling law… Read More »
Turnpike Traffic Stop Yields Almost $15 Million In Cocaine
In mid-October 2025, a semi-truck was stopped by law enforcement on Florida’s Turnpike. During the stop, police found a trap door in the trailer which contained “multiple duffel bags filled with cocaine.” The drugs, weighed at 173 kilograms and valued at roughly $14.7 million, were confiscated and three suspects were arrested, now facing federal… Read More »
Do My Kids Have To Testify?
Domestic violence cases are often highly emotional, difficult matters to prosecute, and the potential for volatility only increases if young children are involved. No one ever wants to put a young child in the position of having to discuss what is likely a traumatizing event for them – but at the same time, in… Read More »
Could A Drug Arrest Get Me Deported?
Today’s media enjoys painting the U.S. immigration system as soft and porous, arguing that ‘anyone’ can enter and remain in the country without legal authorization to do so. In reality, the immigration system is extremely overextended, with an extensive backlog of cases, but the laws governing crimes committed by non-citizens are quite harsh. Nowhere… Read More »
Survivor Lawmaker Files Domestic Violence Bill
A state lawmaker, who is herself a survivor of domestic violence, filed a bill in late October 25 that aims to create even more protections for those who have been the victims of this type of offense. The assemblywoman’s bill, House Bill 277, would require training in domestic violence for first responders, and place… Read More »
Myths About Drug Crimes In Florida
Florida has some of the harshest drug laws in the United States, and too often, the average person may not know the specifics of the law until it is too late. Myths and misunderstandings float around, repeated as gospel when the person speaking may not know the truth. If you have been charged with… Read More »
Can I Take Leave From My Job After Domestic Violence?
A person who has experienced an act of domestic violence will often have to adjust to a very new reality afterward. They may need to find another place to live; they may need to take other steps to protect their safety, and preserve their mental health as best they can. To that end, Florida… Read More »
Ketamine Overdoses On The Rise
In 2023, Florida authorities started noticing the presence of ketamine in many drug cases, particularly as an ingredient in ‘cut’ drugs. Usage has only increased since then, particularly since ketamine has been identified as a viable treatment for some kinds of depression, but abuse of the drug is sadly on the rise according to… Read More »