There are so many elements that go into a criminal trial in Portland that one might easily question how it can be claimed that a fair trial is possible. An old saying exists that posits that justice is blind, implying that it should only be influenced by what is...
Appeals
Is there any benefit to accepting a plea deal?
If you have been convicted of a crime in Oregon and are facing serious charges that could potentially result in your imprisonment for a significant length of time, you may be trying to do anything you can to lessen the consequences you are facing. In your efforts to...
What are plea deals, why do DAs offer them and are they ethical?
Plea bargains are much more common than you might think, accounting for 90 percent of the outcomes of all criminal cases in America. Many countries do not allow them as they consider them unethical and immoral, but as the numbers indicate, America favors them over all...
After successful appeal, man preparing for 3rd trial
When people in Oregon have been convicted of committing a crime, it is hoped that authorities put adequate time and analysis into drawing a conclusion. However, there are undoubtedly times when false witness reports, inadequate evidence and even shoddy investigative...
Why do death row appeals take so long?
The death sentence is one of the most controversial sentences a court in Oregon can hand down. When a judge applies this sentence to a case, he or she does it with the utmost care. After all, the judge is sentencing a person to be put to death, which is never an easy...
A closer look at plea bargains and why they exist
If there was a formal trial for every single criminal in Oregon who was ever accused of committing a crime, there would be too much work and not enough professionals to take care of the job. As such, it is imperative that legal professionals find alternative means to...
Why do judges make mistakes?
Receiving an unfair verdict in an Oregon courtroom may result from a lack of evidence, or from a false witness. However, it is possible that the judge in your case made a mistake. How does this happen?According to The National Judicial College, there are certain...
Can I appeal my conviction if I accepted a plea bargain?
Facing criminal charges in Oregon can disrupt your life. Perhaps you chose to accept a plea deal, but now you want to appeal your conviction. Do you still have that option if you pleaded guilty?According to FindLaw, it is possible, but you must have a good reason to...
Why is attention to detail so important when filing an appeal?
Going through a criminal trial in Oregon has been emotionally and mentally challenging. If an issue arose with the presentation of evidence, you may have felt devastated as you watched your case fall apart. In this case, you may naturally believe that if your trial...
A prosecutor’s mistakes led to a successful appeal
A driver in Oregon who receives a DUI conviction may want a new trial, but unless there was a legal error made during the first one, there may not be grounds to appeal the judge's decision. FindLaw points out that the error is not typically a mistaken fact, but...