There are two ways that courts in Arizona interpret the law. Statutory law follows the letter of the law, while common law is based on previous rulings. In fact, an understanding of common law frequently helps defense attorneys build a stronger case. The term “common law”...
What Is Considered a Federal Crime? Federal crimes are violations of the U.S. Constitution and always overrule state law. The majority of criminal trials are held in state courts. For a crime to go to federal court, it must be of federal interest. See below for...
As a seasoned drug offense attorney in Phoenix, Todd Coolidge is a vital asset to anyone with a drug charge on their hands. In our last blog post, we covered a brief history of drug use in the US, both prescription and recreational. In this...
Each day we’re faced with making hundreds to thousands of decisions: from what color of socks we’ll wear, to the type of toothpaste we’ll use, to what time we’ll leave for work. We may not consciously think about these smaller decisions, but they’re still choices...
The previous post on our Todd Coolidge Law Firm Blog covered a breaking news story about a sexual abuse scandal within the Catholic Church. In this post, we’ll discuss laws and statutes regarding sexual abuse in Phoenix, Arizona. We’ll also examine sexual abuse claims in...
In a previous post, we covered the difference between a misdemeanor and felony, as well as the different levels and sentences for misdemeanors. In this post, we’d like to discuss felonies in more depth. If you’ve been charged with a felony in Arizona, the first...
We’ve taken a look at filing an appeal in Arizona and now we’re going to dive in a little deeper. When you have good representation from the get-go, an appeal is often not needed. However, there are times when an appeal is necessary. We will...
What is Forensic Science? When thinking about forensics, most of us imagine scientists gathering DNA evidence from a crime scene. However, there are several disciplines in the forensic field. The AAFS (American Academy of Forensic Sciences) includes eleven different types of forensics in its organization. These...
At Coolidge Law, we understand that pleading guilty might not be your first choice, but sometimes it’s your only choice. Even if you are innocent, the evidence may be stacked against you, or you might have prior convictions, which could sway a jury of your...
Facing criminal charges can be quite overwhelming. Keeping track of all of the steps involved can be difficult for those not engaged in the world of DUI charges and felonies in Arizona on a daily basis. In a previous blog post we outlined what happens...