Criminal Law
Happy Veteran’s Day from Gordon Etzler & Associates, LLP
We would like to extend a special thank you to all who have served on reserve or active duty in the United States Marine Corps, the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the United States Coast Guard, or in the many state National Guards throughout our great Nation! SFT … Continue reading Happy Veteran’s Day from Gordon Etzler & Associates, LLP
Read MoreYour Right to Not Be Searched is Sacred — Protect Your Fourth Amendment Right
From the creation of our Democracy, it was one of the most fundamental and important concepts that the government cannot search your person or effects only in the most limited circumstances. Citizens have the right to refuse the government to search their persons, homes, vehicles, and property unless certain requirements are met. In Indiana, this … Continue reading Your Right to Not Be Searched is Sacred — Protect Your Fourth Amendment Right
Read MoreNew Law — Reduce Your Indiana D Felony to an A Misdemeanor EFFECTIVE TODAY!
In the 2011-2012 Session of the Indiana General Assembly, Public Law 69-2012 was passed allowing D felons to reduce their past mistakes and have them entered as Class A Misdemeanors. (See new I.C. s 35-50-2-7). In order to reduce a Class D Felony conviction and have it entered as a Class A Misdemeanor: 1. The … Continue reading New Law — Reduce Your Indiana D Felony to an A Misdemeanor EFFECTIVE TODAY!
Read MoreNew Indiana Public Intoxication Law Goes into Effect July 1, 2012
As of May 25, 2012, Governor Mitch Daniels has signed the new Public Intoxication law into effect. The new law will go into effect July 1, 2012. The intent of the new law, among other things, is to discourage potential drunk drivers from operating a motor vehicle, by not penalizing them by imposing criminal liability … Continue reading New Indiana Public Intoxication Law Goes into Effect July 1, 2012
Read MoreInjecting Common Sense into the Porter County Jail Overcrowding Problem
Jail overcrowding has been a longstanding problem in Porter County over recent years. Most recently, the Sheriff, David Lain, pleads with the County to open, and consequently fund, the third pod of our 3-pod jail facility. (See Northwest Indiana Times article, “Porter County Sherriff Again Urging Response to Jail Overcrowding” 2 May 2012; Post-Tribune article, … Continue reading Injecting Common Sense into the Porter County Jail Overcrowding Problem
Read MoreIndiana General Assembly Passes Law Designed to Renew Right of Self-Defense
In the wake of the Trayvon Martin shooting, the issue of “self-defense” is now capturing nationwide attention. However, it was already a fairly hot topic in the Indiana legal community following the 2011 case of Barnes v. State. In that case, the Indiana Supreme Court held that citizens no longer have a right to reasonably … Continue reading Indiana General Assembly Passes Law Designed to Renew Right of Self-Defense
Read MoreNew Indiana Law Allows Reduction of Class D Felonies
In a February Article, we wrote that a new felony reduction bill had passed in the Indiana House. The bill moved on to the Senate, and after some modifications it was signed into law by the Governor on March 15th. As expected, the statute allows courts to reduce non-violent, non-sexual Class D Felony convictions to … Continue reading New Indiana Law Allows Reduction of Class D Felonies
Read MoreNew Indiana Alcohol Law Offers a More Reasonable Perspective
For the longest time, Indiana has provided an arcane system of overly broad and ambiguously defined alcohol laws. (See SFTlaw Article, Indiana Senate Votes to Restrict Public Intoxication Law by Attorney Jacob Blackstone.) Unfortunately, the law in question did not pass the Indiana General Assembly. What did pass, however, has been coined as the “Lifeline … Continue reading New Indiana Alcohol Law Offers a More Reasonable Perspective
Read MoreThe Trayvon Martin Shooting and the Uncertain Future of ‘Stand Your Ground’ Laws
It is well known (and quite frankly flooding the media lately) about the tragic shooting of Trayvon Martin. People most often discuss the racial tensions surrounding the shooting of Trayvon Martin by the [white] self-appointed neighborhood watchman, George Zimmerman. What I would like to briefly discuss, however, are the implications of the law that could … Continue reading The Trayvon Martin Shooting and the Uncertain Future of ‘Stand Your Ground’ Laws
Read MoreNew Indiana Law Expected to Allow Reduction of Class D Felonies
Do you have a Class D Felony conviction which is more than 3 years old? If so, your time as a “convicted felon” might soon be over! The Indiana House recently passed House Bill 1033 which allows courts to convert Class D Felonies to Class A Misdemeanors after 3 years so long as the convicted … Continue reading New Indiana Law Expected to Allow Reduction of Class D Felonies
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