Verbal abuse is a common element in many domestic violence cases. It uses the power of words to degrade, control and inflict harm on others. The scars often left by this kind of abuse may not be visible, but they are deeply etched into the survivor's emotional and...
Indecent exposure often conjures a comical image of a man in a trench coat revealing himself to unsuspecting passersby. In reality, however, indecent exposure is far from humorous for its victims and qualifies as a misdemeanor. But what if your exposure was...
When you don’t have a car of your own but still need a vehicle to get around, a car rental service would be useful. No matter the car rental service company you pick, there are multiple locations you can choose to borrow a vehicle from and return it after. But how...
Despite the popularity of online news sources, many people still rely on newspapers to update themselves on current events. Newspapers are also still distributed by hand by delivery personnel. But while newspapers still exist in hard copies, it also makes them easier...
After being formally charged with a crime, you must make at least several critical decisions. One of these is whether or not to plead guilty to the offense. Criminal courts may schedule a preliminary hearing in cases where the defendant pleads not guilty. You have the...
A conviction for a criminal offense can have far-reaching legal and personal implications. Even after paying your debt to society, a criminal record can still linger on and cause problems. For instance, something as simple as a DUI on your record can make it quite...
The Youth Equity and Safety (YES) Act, formally known as Maryland Senate Bill 93, could bring good news for under-18s facing criminal charges – if legislators pass it. The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee called Ortega Law’s Windy Ortega to testify before them on...
Like all other states, Maryland categorizes the crime of murder into several degrees. You may be charged with first or second degrees of murder or manslaughter. It all depends on the circumstances of your offense. These degrees of offenses are vastly different, at...
In the state of Maryland, requests for compassionate release are denied approximately three times as often as they are granted. This reality largely stems from the harsh restrictions that current state law places on when compassionate release is allowable and when it...
If you are facing criminal charges, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty. In addition, your guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt for a conviction. However, that is not all. You have other constitutional rights you ought to understand and safeguard...