In our last blog post, we outlined a few of the avenues that remain after you are convicted of a misdemeanor or felony in Chandler, Scottsdale, Tempe or anywhere in Arizona. This included Appeals, Habeas Corpus, PCR Petitions and Arizona Rule 32. Today we will...
Being convicted of a felony in Arizona, or even a misdemeanor, is not the end of the line. There are still avenues that can be taken to positively effect your life, reduce the number of negative consequences of a criminal conviction, or even overturn or...
The complex legal system can be both difficult to unravel and intimidating. It helps to have certain terms explained in the simplest way possible, not shrouded by legal jargon. Having a Certified Criminal Law Specialist like Todd Coolidge certainly helps, but for those of you...
What is the "Romeo and Juliet" law in Arizona? If there is one play that William Shakespeare is known for, it is probably “Romeo and Juliet.” Almost everyone is familiar with this tale of tragic young lovers, either from reading it in high school or...
When a lawyer uses an affirmative defense, they argue that the defendant’s guilty plea should be lesser or non-existent due to the extenuating circumstances. Even though the defendant admits their role in the crime, because of the situation they should not be held responsible for...
In our previous two posts, we talked about how the landmark Miranda v. Arizona ruling extended the right to remain silent to all potential suspects upon arrest and interrogation outside the courtroom. Originally, however, this right was only applied through the 5th Amendment to a...
Lying under oath, or committing perjury, is a pretty straightforward concept in criminal law. It is, to knowingly make false statements while under oath on the witness stand, and it’s considered a Class 4 Felony in Phoenix under ARS 13-2702, punishable by a maximum prison...
Remember when you were a kid and broke your mom’s cherished vase or spilled juice on her favorite living room rug? Your natural instincts probably kicked in as you hurried to get rid of any and all evidence of your indiscretion. Maybe you cleaned the...
When the suspect of a crime is brought into custody by law enforcement and made aware of their right to an attorney, Coolidge Law Firm (serving Chandler, Gilbert, and Mesa Arizona) ALWAYS recommends they call an experienced criminal defense attorney. The reason? There may not...
Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is a polarizing legal issue in our nation. And it’s extremely relevant to citizens of the Grand Canyon State, as we are one of 31 States in the US where the death penalty is still legal. On three separate...