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possession of drugs

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Criminal Law

With the recent legal landscape surrounding marijuana changing throughout the United States, it can be confusing knowing exactly what is allowed. Even more confusing is understanding the interplay between marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Drug paraphernalia is defined under statute as all equipment used to manufacture, inject, test, or enhance a controlled substance. See Minn. Stat. § 152.01

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Hands in handcuffs

What Do I Do if I Am Denied a Public Defender?

Criminal Law

Inevitably, in every crime show, you will hear an officer perform an arrest and inform the accused that they have the right to an attorney, and if one cannot be afforded the state will appoint one. This is derived from the fact that both the Minnesota Constitution and United States Constitution guarantee that every indigent

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Person behind books

School Disciplinary Hearings

Criminal Law

For many parents, learning that their child is being subject to a school disciplinary hearing is earth-shattering news. K12 education is of paramount importance and the disruption of being removed from school can have a detrimental impact on the livelihood of both the child and the parents, who must scramble to make adequate accommodations. It

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Hand holding cigarette

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Criminal Law

With the recent legal landscape surrounding marijuana changing throughout the United States, it can be confusing knowing exactly what is allowed. Even more confusing is understanding the interplay between marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Drug paraphernalia is defined under statute as all equipment used to manufacture, inject, test, or enhance a controlled substance. See Minn. Stat.

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Wooden gavel

Do I Look Guilty If I Hire A Lawyer?

Criminal Law

The Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution, as well as Article I Section Six of the Minnesota Constitution, guarantees that every citizen who has been accused of a criminal offense will enjoy the right to the assistance of counsel. In plain language, this means that every individual who has charges brought against them by

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Person in handcuffs holding money

Posting Bail: Get Out of Jail…Free?

Criminal Law

The United States has a longstanding tradition of allowing individuals who have been arrested to be released on bail prior to their case being tried, effectively known as “pre-trial release”. The Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution explicitly forbids the imposition of excessive bail. While this prohibition is thought to hold the courts accountable,

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Police cars on the road at nighttime

How Do I Know if I Have a Warrant Out for My Arrest?

Criminal Law

The uncertainty of not knowing whether you have a warrant out for your arrest can be detrimental to your everyday life. Often, if someone has an active warrant, it is a result of a missed court appearance, so there is some certainty in knowing if you are wanted by law enforcement. However, that is not

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Young man in handcuffs

Juvenile Justice: Understanding The Process When Your Child Is Arrested

Criminal Law

As a parent, one of the worst scenarios is receiving a call from the police informing you that your child has been arrested. It is often an overwhelming situation that is even more complicated by a lack of familiarity with the juvenile court process. While there are some similarities between juvenile court and adult criminal

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Scales and gavel

Potter Trial Update: Kim Potter Testifies in Her Own Defense

Criminal Law

On Friday, December 17, 2021, Kim Potter took the witness stand to give her account of what took place on April 11, 2021, the day Daunte Wright was shot and killed while attempting to flee from a traffic stop initiated by Ms. Potter. During her tear-filled recitation, Ms. Potter recalled seeing a fellow officer struggling

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Police talking to car driver

Understanding Your Rights As a Passenger During a Traffic Stop

Traffic

On September 20, 2021, the Minnesota Court of Appeals passed down its ruling on the case of State v. Robison. A case in which the passenger—Robinson—was successful in suppressing evidence discovered after officers removed both the driver and Robison during a routine traffic stop for speeding and began ransacking the vehicle without appropriate justification. The

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