A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true. – Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. on courage, March 8, 1965 Loosely translated, this has […]
Theme for My Second Term as President: HCCLA Read More »
I am honored to share this night with my friends and colleagues: Stanley Schneider, Mark Bennett, David Dow, Thuy Le, Nicolas Hughes, and David Ryan. We will honor their achievements as I am sworn in as President of HCCLA for the second time. Make plans to join us!
HCCLA 45th Annual Banquet Read More »
Some say I’m obsessed. Some say it’s cool. Some say I remember that! My obsession with signs (neon signs, vintage signs, local signs, unique signs, traveling signs) captures a memory or feeling. While the signs (or places they represent) may not last long, relatively speaking, they represent memories that last a lifetime. When i first
One of those Facebook “challenges” that made its rounds a while back asked you to name ten things that most people may not know about you. I was only able to list 7, but number 1 on the list was: I always wanted to be a teacher. Combine that with being a lawyer, and I
It is difficult enough to find work. Saddle a person with a “conviction” or even a “probation” and employers will quickly pass on that applicant. Our “tough on crime” mentality over the past 20-30 years has created an environment where 17 year olds (treated as adults for even minor offenses) with a first possession of
Jobs after Conviction: Not likely! Read More »
In my spare time, I volunteer as editor of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association publication The Defender. I have served as editor since 2009. We publish 4 issues a year. It’s a lot of work but is very rewarding. If you are interested in legal articles and procedures in Texas, this publication provides legal
The historic 1910 Courthouse in Harris County boldly displays the scales of justice above its entry; however, until recent years the courthouses of Harris County were devoid of our founding principles: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. These idocuments are the foundation and backbone of our system of Justice yet
I’m working on a new outlook for blogging! Making the time to blog proves to be my greatest challenge; however, I want to be able to share current information and trends in criminal justice. Being informed is the greatest asset. I pride myself on being able to provide information and expertise to my clients. While
You know that old saying: keep your friends close and your social media friends even closer! Well that’s the new twist on the old saying. Did you know that the police, the government, can create fake social media accounts and “friend” you? They can. And they do. They can use your own social media against you.
Friends or the Government? Read More »
For decades now, Texas and in particular Harris County has held the mantra “tough on crime”. Political candidates have built their foundation on being tough on crime. It even sounds good to most voters. Who doesn’t want murderers and rapists in prison? But what has it gotten us? At what cost? No, this is not
Tough Justice vs Right to be Let Alone Read More »
