The Federal Crime and Procedure
Ed Chernoff discusses the procedures, pros and cons of being charged with a crime in Federal Court versus State Court. He explains that there is nothing to be afraid of and any criminal case is manageable.
Kids and Guns
Ed Chernoff discusses the causes influencing young men to commit violent acts such as Capital Murder. He explains how these kids get guns and the reasons they are not influenced by the threat of extreme prison sentences.
Continuous Violence Against the Family
It is a misdemeanor for one person to cause bodily injury to another, including a family member. However, if it is alleged that this same person caused bodily injury to a family member more than once, and these separate events occurred within a 12 month period, then the State can charge the fel...
Role of the Judge in your Criminal Case
I often wonder why a rational person would choose to become a judge in a Criminal Court. The pay isn't great, and in the off chance one gets elected to the bench, he or she must worry about being fired every four years. To make it worse, re-election isn't based on the job the Judge does during he...
Ultimate Guide to Bail in Harris County
Criminal Lawyer Ed Chernoff provides the ultimate guide to bail procedure in the Harris County Texas court system.
The Pre-Charge Investigation
The Pre-charge Investigation is an opportunity for a criminal defense lawyer to protect his client from being charged on false, incomplete or incompetent evidence, from incriminating himself and keep him from being the victim of a surprise arrest.
Prositution is Now a Felony in Texas
In 2021 the Texas Legislature changed the law making Solicition of Prostitution a State Jail Felony. This post discusses the ramifications for those charged with this offense and what a criminal defense lawyer can do to save you from having a record for a felony offense.
Murder Defenses - Insanity
What is the Insanity Defense in Texas criiminal court? Texas Penal Code, Sec. 8.01 provides the framework for the defense of insanity in Texas Criminal courts. It states that “it is an affirmative defense to prosecution that, at the time of the conduct charged, the actor, as a result of severe mental disease or defect, did not know that his conduct w...
Should I Take a Plea Bargain?
You want to know if you should take the plea bargain that has been offered you? Naturally the answer to this question is case specific, but in order to help you in your decision I will discuss the general pros and cons of a plea bargain. Let us begin by defining “plea bargain”. A plea offer is not necessarily a "plea bargain". For an accused, a “plea bargain” is a resolution to the case that is substantially better than ...
Murder Defenses (Part 3)
Ed Chernoff discusses intoxication as it relates to Murder defenses.
Murder Defenses(Part 2)
Somewhere out there in the abyss that is the Texas Legislature, a group of individuals are discussing a way to make all open possession of handguns legal. Their argument is that we are all safer if everybody carries a weapon. In actuality, there appears to be a romanticizing of the Texas west tha...
Murder Defenses (Part 1)
Ed Chernoff discusses self-defense as a justification for the charge of Murder in Texas.
Murder Incorporated
What is Murder in the State of Texas? Believe it or not, Murder is defined differently in different States. All Murders require a homicide, that a person died due to the actions of another human being. In Texas, Murder is defined in Penal Code §19.02, which states that a person commits the offen...
Zoom Lawyering
Zoom Lawyering Covid has served to disrupt the Harris County Criminal Courts. In addition to face mask requirements, the system itself has changed considerably in an effort to provide a safe and suitable court and work environment. For the last four months, many court settings have been rolled to...
The Danger of Staying Home
The Danger of Staying Home I can't speak for other criminal defense attorneys but judging by the calls I'm getting it appears that the stress of home confinement has caused an increase in family violence. Some of it is simple bickering, some is outright hostility and unfortunately, some of the ca...
DNA Sample for a Mere Misdemeanor?
DNA Sample for a Mere Misdemeanor? Every summer, us criminal defense attorneys pay attention to the mechanizations of the Texas Legislature to determine what new laws we may be having to deal with in September. This year I was curious about a bill proposed by a Conroe legislator that mandated a ...
Listen to Your Lawyer
Listen to Your Lawyer I remember most of the stupid things I have done. One that sticks out is the day I decided to replace the pea trap under my kitchen sink. It really looked simple. Two attaching rings and maybe one pipe section that needed to be replaced? How hard could that be? I'm an educa...
The Damage of a False Accusation
The Damage of a False Accusation Many of my clients are innocent. Falsely accused, they burn with a fury that is often times difficult to reign in. I am often asked the same question, “You mean to tell me that I can be charged with a crime based only on the statement of one person?”. It is hard ...
Federal Detention Hearing
Ed Chernoff reviewing law on Federal Detention Nuts and Bolts of Federal Detention Hearing The Bail Reform Act of 1984(18 U.S.C. §3142) is the best place to start. This law was enacted during “Just Say No” and the TV show Miami Vice, where the country was coming to terms with the proliferation...
The War Against Doctors
The opioid crisis is a real crisis. People are dying. Of course, the government looks for a clear bogeymen in these situations, since it makes for palatable political fodder. In the two decades after Ronald Reagan took office as President, the main bogeymen for the drug crisis were the drug users...
Everything You Need to Know About Pretrial Diversion Programs
Pretrial Intervention is a contract with the prosecutor that feels a whole lot like probation. That's the bad part. The good part is that the prosecutor's responsibility is to dismiss the criminal action so long as the accused fulfills the probation like conditions for which he is responsible. Th...
A Little More About Harassment
The crime of Harassment in the State of Texas originates from a broadly constructed statute that prohibits various types of electronic communication intended or designed to annoy, harass, alarm, abuse, torment or embarrass the recipient. Among other activities, the statute specifically prohibits ...
A Little More About Assault of a Family Member
At least once a week I receive a phone call from a girlfriend, wife or husband who regrets calling the police on their loved one and wants to know how to “drop” charges. I know what she wants. She wants to go back in time and erase the problem without having to deal with the court system or the e...
Sex Offender Registration in Texas. Time for a Change
Who Goes into Texas Sex Offender Registry? Currently, Chapter 62 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure governs Sex Offender Registration. It details when registration is required and for how long. If we were to condense it down to basics, just about everybody has to register for the rest of the...
The Bachelor
Most of my clients are on bond. However, some unfortunates have cases of sufficient severity that bail has been set too high to make. One female client of mine, who is charged with two cases including Capital Murder, sits in the jail on Baker Street awaiting trial. I visit her frequently, but cou...