In Washington, a defendant can be convicted of DUI crimes based on circumstantial evidence, such as the result of field sobriety testing, or direct evidence, such as a BAC level. Regardless of the character of the evidence presented, the prosecution must provide sufficient evidence that the defendant was operating a vehicle while under the influence […]

The Sixth Amendment to the Constitution guarantees “the right to a speedy and public trial.” This is to keep defendants from languishing in jail or legal limbo for longer than necessary before they have been convicted of any illegal activity. At the same time, if the charges against you are highly serious or complex, you […]

         “..there are men who regret that we cannot hear our Handel exactly as Handel meant us to because, unfortunately, we no longer castrate boy singers” ― Eric J. Hobsbawm, The Jazz Scene  Castration is always a fun subject.  I remember being horrified in law school circa 1995 that castration was still […]

In the field of healthcare, personalized medicine is revolutionizing treatment approaches by tailoring medical interventions to an individual’s genetic makeup. Pharmacogenetics, a key component of personalized medicine, focuses on how genetic variations influence an individual’s response to medications. This article aims to provide an overview understanding of pharmacogenetics and suggest some considerations in making informed […]

The Washington courts staunchly prosecute crimes involving domestic violence, including violations of domestic violence no contact orders. Thus, if a person found guilty of violating such an order has prior domestic violence convictions, it may result in an increased offender score, which in turn can lead to greater penalties. The state must offer sufficient evidence […]

In order to convict a person for a Tacoma Driving Under the Influence (DUI), the prosecution must demonstrate that the person operated a vehicle with a blood alcohol level over the legal limit or while under the influence of an intoxicant. To do so, the prosecution will usually rely on the results of a chemical […]

In Washington criminal matters, the State bears the burden of showing, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant committed the charged offense. The State can rely on direct and circumstantial evidence to prove its case. Generally, any evidence that is relevant is admissible as long as it does not confuse or mislead the jury and […]

In Tacoma DUI cases, the courts typically impose fines on convicted persons, in addition to other penalties. However, in some cases, such as when a defendant is indigent, the State and/or City  may agree to waive such fines. If a court mistakenly imposes financial penalties on a DUI defendant despite agreeing not to do so, […]

Generally, people in Tacoma have the right to own and possess firearms. The right is not inalienable, however, and in certain situations may be taken away. For example, people convicted of felony offenses are typically barred from possessing firearms, and may face criminal charges if they are caught with a gun in their possession. As […]