Category Archives: Criminal Defense
Recreational Cannabis Bill Fails At The Florida Polls
In 2016, Florida law expanded to allow medical cannabis use, with more than 60 percent of voters approving the option for those with “debilitating illnesses.” Ever since, a movement to broaden cannabis legalization into recreational use has steadily taken root in the state, with the latest ballot initiative appearing during the November 2024 election…. Read More »
Domestic Violence In Florida LGBTQ+ Partnerships
Domestic violence crimes are not exclusively a province of heterosexual couples; unfortunately, crimes of intimate partner violence (IPV) are just as common, if not more so, in the LGBTQ+ community, though they are generally reported less often. If you have been accused of domestic violence against your partner or spouse, and you are a… Read More »
Suspect In Florida Domestic Violence Stabbing Arrested In Houston
In late November 2024, an 18-year old Orlando woman was arrested in Houston, Texas, on suspicion of stabbing her boyfriend to death. She allegedly stabbed him in August after an argument that escalated into a physical confrontation. It remains to be seen whether the woman will be extradited to Florida to stand trial, or… Read More »
Domestic Violence & Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” Laws
Florida’s notorious “Stand Your Ground” law was added to its laws in 2005, allowing someone who reasonably believes they are about to be the victim of someone else’s use of force to defend themselves without retreating. If you have been involved in a domestic dispute, and you used force to defend yourself, the law… Read More »
Domestic Violence Involving Firearms
Florida’s domestic violence law defines the crime as any criminal offense “resulting in physical injury or death” to a person who is part of a specific set of qualifying victims – for example, spouses, ex-spouses, or unmarried co-parents. Rather than being its own specific offense, domestic violence is an umbrella of sorts – the… Read More »
Hearsay In Domestic Violence Cases
When a person is charged with a crime of domestic violence in Florida, their first move should be to enlist a domestic violence defense attorney well versed in this type of case. There are many different possible defenses to domestic violence-related crimes, but many of them revolve around documentary evidence and witness testimony. These… Read More »
Domestic Violence & The “Duty To Retreat”
As of 2023, 28 U.S. states (including Florida) and Puerto Rico had laws known as “stand your ground” laws, which echo the common-law “castle doctrine” in eliminating any duty to retreat from a violent home invader. One of the areas of law where “stand your ground” is perhaps most relevant is in discussing crimes… Read More »
Violating A Domestic Violence Injunction Is A Crime
A domestic violence injunction (DVI) is issued in a case where an alleged victim can show that they have either been a victim of domestic violence, or have “reasonable cause to believe” that they will very soon become a victim of domestic violence. If you have a DVI currently enforced against you, it is… Read More »
A “Reasonable Fear” Of “Imminent Harm” in Domestic Violence Cases
The Florida legislature has passed many different laws in order to protect alleged victims of domestic violence, including the granting of injunctions (also called restraining orders) against alleged abusers. Many people think it is easy to obtain a domestic violence injunction (DVI), while in reality, the petitioner must demonstrate that the situation is serious… Read More »
What Is – And Is Not – Domestic Violence In Florida
The average person tends to think that domestic violence is always physical and always happens between spouses. In reality, Florida’s domestic violence law is broad, covering a wide variety of offenses against a defined group of people. If you have been involved in a domestic dispute, it is extremely important to be aware of… Read More »