As New York gun rights attorneys we are starting to see cases involving New York Extreme Risk Protections Orders (ERPOS) sometimes referred to as Red Flag Laws. New York’s Civil Practice Law and Rules was amended to add a new Article 63-A which gives a Supreme Court Justice, sitting in…
New York Criminal Attorney Blog
New York Appellate Court Orders Suppression of Handgun That Defendant Threw While Fleeing from Police
Earlier this month, a state appellate court issued a written opinion in a New York gun case discussing the concept of forced abandonment. Generally, when a defendant discards an item – such as narcotics or a gun – they lose any ability to argue for the item’s suppression. However, when…
A New York Criminal Defense Attorney Should Be a Skilled Negotiator
When most people think about the characteristics they want in a New York criminal defense attorney, terms like aggressive, vigilant, and zealous often come to mind. And to be sure, these are all traits that a well-rounded defense attorney should possess. However, this most certainly is an incomplete list. One…
New York Court Reverses Defendant’s Conviction Based on Police Officers’ Purported “Inventory Search”
Recently, we conducted a suppression hearing in New York County (Manhattan) Criminal Court, in a DWI case where the Court suppressed evidence that was found pursuant to an inventory search. Courts are increasingly scrutinizing inventory searches. In July, a state appellate court issued a written opinion in a New York…
IS THE NATIONAL FIREARMS ACT (NFA) DEAD?
The National Firearm Act of 1934 (commonly known as the “NFA”) was the first federal gun control act and for the first time created a national registry of purchasers of “Machine guns”, “sawed-off shotguns” and “silencers”. In addition, a $200 tax is imposed on each transfer of any NFA item…
Can New York Police Officers Search a Car if They Smell Marijuana?
On July 31, 2019, a state appellate court issued a written opinion in a New York drug case discussing whether police officers can search a person’s car if they smell marijuana. Ultimately, the court concluded that the search was permissible because the smell of marijuana gives rise to probable cause…
SCOTUS Issues Case Discussing Police Officers’ Ability to Take the Blood of Unconscious New York Motorists
The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures. Courts have long held that to be considered “reasonable”, a search must be supported by the issuance of a valid search warrant. To obtain a warrant, police must fill out an affidavit explaining the basis…
New York Court Reverses Murder Conviction Based on Prosecution’s Failure to Hand Over Video Surveillance Footage
Earlier this month, a state appellate court issued a written opinion in a New York homicide case discussing the obligation that the prosecution has to disclose evidence to the defense. Ultimately, the court reversed the defendant’s murder conviction because it found that the prosecutions’ failure to provide video evidence undermined…
New York Prosecutors Cannot Make Jury-Selection Decisions Based on Race
New York criminal defendants enjoy many important constitutional rights, one of which is the right to a jury drawn from a cross-section of society. In the 1986 United States Supreme Court case, Batson v. Kentucky, the Court determined that the defendant was deprived of his constitutional rights when the prosecution…
New York Court Determines Sex Offender Did Not Need to Register Facebook Account
Sex offenses are serious crimes, and a conviction for a New York sex crime can carry with it many repercussions aside from potential jail time. One of the most onerous consequences for those who have been convicted of a sex offense is the requirement that they register as a sex…