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...
CRIMINAL LAW – Criminal Defense
Windy Ortega speaks before Senate on the YES Act
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...
What degrees of murder are there in Maryland?
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...
Maryland lawmakers consider compassionate release reforms
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...
Understand your constitutional rights as a defendant
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...
How a motion to suppress evidence could affect your criminal case
During the pretrial hearing stage of a trial, the defendant or their defense can file a motion to suppress evidence. The motion aims at excluding specific evidence from the trial proceedings. If the judge grants the motion, the affected evidence will not form part of...
Do you believe you experienced a Miranda Warning violation?
For police officers to arrest you and charge you with a crime, they have to comply with certain federal and state rules. When an officer makes a mistake during the arrest process or while gathering evidence, they may undermine the state's ability to use that evidence...
2 mistakes to avoid when charged with a felony in Maryland
Being charged with a crime – any crime – is a big deal. Even if you are not convicted, the idea that your reputation and freedom are at stake can be very overwhelming. If you are charged with a crime, it is in your best interests that you know what to do, and the...
What can cause a parole violation?
You must adhere to specific rules and requirements when you are released from jail on parole. These vary from one person to the next, depending on the severity of the crime of which they were convicted. You may hear people mix up the terms parole and probation;...
I’ve been wrongfully accused of a crime. What can I do?
Being accused of a criminal offense is a serious matter. From the arrest, the mug shot to the arraignment through to the trial period, the whole ordeal can be harrowing, to say the least. But what if you did not commit the crime in question in the first place? Facing...