Category: Criminal Defense

Private Defense Attorney or Public Defender?

Jun 21
2011

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Categories: Criminal Defense

You may not qualify for the public defender, but if you do, you may be wondering whether you should keep your public defender or choose to hire a privately retained criminal attorney.

 

Public defenders are attorneys paid by the state, who do not choose their clients.  Similarly, you don’t get to choose which public defender you get.  In the case of private attorneys, individuals faced with a crime have

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Medical Marijuana Rule Changes

Jun 6
2011

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Categories: Criminal Defense | Drug Crimes | Medical Marijuana

Today, the Colorado Board of Health approved a series of rule changes impacting the use and also distribution of medical marijuana.  Some have criticized these changes are pro-law enforcement.  Supporters of the changes argue the changes merely “clarify” the language of Amendment 20, while opponents argue that the changes seek to undermine Amendment 20.

 

Amendment 20, which legalized medical marijuana in Colorado, was passed in 2000.  That amendment defined

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Driving on Pot Bill Killed in Colorado Senate

May 11
2011

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Categories: Criminal Defense | Drug Crimes | DUI | Medical Marijuana

A bill that would have placed a “per se” limit on those driving under the influence of marijuana was killed this week in the Colorado Senate.  The bill would have placed a limit on the amount of THC one could have in their blood while driving, similar to the 0.08 limit constituting DUI Per Se in drunk driving cases.  Pro – medical marijuana lobbyists had vehemently opposed the bill, since

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No Contact Orders May be Expanded

Apr 25
2011

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Categories: Criminal Defense | Domestic Violence

In Colorado, the law authorizes and in fact requires the issuance of protection orders in all domestic violence cases.  Current law allows not only a no-contact order, but also restrictions as to the possession of firearms, possession of alcohol, and any other restrictions the court deems appropriate to protect the safety of the alleged victim.

 

However, the law does not currently authorize the issuance of protection orders in non-domestic

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Changes to Community Corrections Contemplated by Colorado Senate

Apr 23
2011

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Categories: Criminal Defense

SB 110-254 contemplates changes to non-residential community corrections programs, insofar as it would permit time credit for these programs.  Additionally, the bill creates criteria for when someone serving a sentence to community corrections may be considered for early termination of his or her sentence.  Specifically,a defendant who has successfully completed the residential phase of a community corrections sentence, has paid the costs of the residential program in full, and is
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