Part 2: How to Evaluate Education, Training and Experience When Hiring a Criminal Lawyer Fort Worth Criminal Defense Attorney Guide Oftentimes when we find ourselves in a pinch, we reach out to friends and family for advice and assistance. Unfortunately, unless your uncle is Matlock-reincarnate, you will want to vet each and every potential defense attorney to ensure they have the ability to not only handle your case, but to help you succeed. In other words: your great Aunt Birdie who got you out of a speeding ticket when you were 16 might not be the one to get you out of a hit-and-run charge today. One way to evaluate and compare potential criminal defense attorneys you may wish to
Read more →What Does A Criminal Lawyer Do? Fort Worth Criminal Defense Attorney GuidePart 1: Introduction Become a Proactive Criminal Defense Client When you are faced with criminal charges, picking the right defense attorney can be the most important part of the entire ordeal. Knowing from the beginning what you can expect a qualified criminal defense attorney to do for you can save you time, money, your reputation and possibly your life. If any one of these four things is important to you, then you should dedicate some time to researching, calling and meeting multiple defense attorneys until you have found the right one. This introductory article is the first in a 12-part series to help inform our readers about the capabilities
Read more →Is It Illegal To Record Conversations In Texas? Picture this — you’re having a conversation with your boss. It starts off as “constructive criticism” about your job performance. As his intensity grows, it starts to seem like there are more problems in his life than just the font you accidentally used in the latest news release. You look around and notice the office door is closed and no one else can hear the things he’s telling you, which seems to be driving his argument to even steeper heights. You’re also an iPhone wizard, so you decide to turn the recording app on while pretending to check the time. Later that night you replay the conversation that ruined your day to
Read more →What Does Prove Beyond A Reasonable Doubt Mean? Evidence in Texas Criminal Cases If a person is charged with a crime they are “presumed innocent” and can only be convicted when the prosecution proves the crime “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Even though a person has been accused, arrested, jailed, or charged with a crime – a jury is not supposed to assume a person has done something wrong. One jury member may need more evidence than another jury member to be convinced “beyond a reasonable doubt.” However, a lawyer cannot tell jury members that they should require more evidence to be convinced “beyond a reasonable doubt” based on how serious a case is. The United State’s Supreme Court has decided
Read more →Criminal Mischief, Graffiti and Theft Crimes Get a Facelift this Session As this blog previously noted, Texas Legislators were considering a Criminal Justice bill that would update and index the property crimes thresholds from their 1993 levels to more modern values reflecting the effect of inflation. In presenting the issue to the Senate Criminal Justice Committee (which was part of the Committee’s Interim Charge), Senator Burton stated property crime values for criminal mischief, graffiti and theft have been stagnant since the levels were established by the Legislature in 1993. Testifying for the bill, Scott Henson of the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition surmised: The practical effect of such stagnation is that “Texans can become a felon for stealing less and less stuff,”
Read more →Cody L. Cofer Selected as Super Lawyer Rising Star 2015 Super Lawyers is a nation wide rating service that people looking for an attorney can use to vet and gather information. The selection process includes more than 70 legal practice areas. Cody Cofer was selected in the area of criminal defense. This honor indicates a “high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.” The selection process for Super Lawyers includes independent research by the publication along with nominations and evaluations by other attorneys. Candidates for Super Lawyer Rising Star are evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection is made on an annual basis. Cody Cofer became a candidate through formal nominations by other Texas attorneys. The
Read more →Holding the State to Its Burden of Proof in Trial If you find yourself facing criminal charges for a crime you did not commit, and the State refuses to dismiss the charges, then a jury trial becomes necessary. It is also necessary for you to hire a defense attorney who will hold the State to its burden of proof: Guilt Beyond a Reasonable Doubt. Guilt beyond a reasonable doubt is the highest burden of proof in the American civil and criminal justice systems. But prosecutors like to tell potential jurors that reaching this burden of proof is no big deal; that every day in courtrooms across Texas and the U.S., jurors reach consensus and find defendant’s guilty of all kinds
Read more →Register Now for 2014 Evidence Bootcamp Every lawyer needs to sharpen their tools of the trade. This evidence workshop is directed by Jerry Howeth, an Austin attorney who is recognized as an expert in Texas evidentiary law. Any criminal defense attorney will find the few days (14.75 CLE hours) valuable to their trial practice. Aside from sharpening a criminal defense attorney’s use of evidentiary maneuvers, participants will be taught Jerry’s unique method of understanding the Texas Rules of Evidence. The Evidence Bootcamp will consist of lectures and break-out sessions where attendees will apply the rules of evidence. Your level of practice will not be the same after this program! Faculty will include: Pheobe S. Smith, Houston, Texas Philip Alan Wischkaemper,
Read more →Cody Cofer and his criminal defense firm moved! New Location 300 Throckmorton Street, Suite 500 After almost 4 years of growing our firm at 111 Houston, we decided it was time to make a change. One City Place is the the new home of Cofer Law. Thank you to Jerry Loftin, Dale, and Brenda for their great support during our years in their building. The firm is excited about the new location that offers more privacy for clients and some modern amenities that will make our practice more efficient. Loaded in Cody’s Truck All of the firm members helped with the move! A special thanks to Keith and Darrell! You guys were amazing, and we could not have done it
Read more →Thanks Texas A&M School of Law Immigration Law Initiative Immigration Intersecting with Criminal Law I was privileged to speak today at Texas A&M School of Law regarding how criminal law intersects with immigration law. The event was well organized and the panel included two other fine lawyers. First, I must say that the moderator of the panel, Associate Dean Huyen Pham, was a delight and honor to meet. Her experience and education is astounding, and the law school is certainly well served with her serving as a faculty member and an administrator. The students attending the event asked poignant questions and received the speakers with great hospitality. I urge anyone invited to take the opportunity to speak to Texas A&M
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