Category Archives: Criminal Non Traffic

1. Washington Criminal Caselaw Update 2011 – State v. Pierce (November 2011)

   Nov 15, 2011 —

   The Court of Appeals, in this unpublished opinion, upheld the trial courts determination of a “gang expert” as an expert under  Evidence Rule 702.  What’s interesting about this otherwise long and tedious opinion is the comment by the Appellate Court that if the defense had shown that the expert opinion was nothing but common knowledge … [More]

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2. Washington State Supreme Court Rules On “Deliberate Cruelty” and “Particular Vulnerability” For Increasing Prison Terms

   Sep 16, 2011 —

    This week the Supreme Court of Washington, in State v. Gordon and State v. Bukovsky, ruled that jurors can define aggravating factors themselves when deciding stiffer punishments. The state of Washington allows criminal juries to consider certain “aggravating sentencing factors” when deciding on the sentence for a convicted person. These are designed to give juries … [More]

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3. Microsoft and Facebook Join Forces to Tackle Child Porn

   May 23, 2011 —

   Facebook and Microsoft have joined forces to eradicate child porn on the internet with a program created by Microsoft called PhotoDNA. Facebook has said that they will begin using PhotoDNA on their site, which is the largest photo-sharing site on the Web. PhotoDNA takes an image and creates a “hashtag” or digital fingerprint. The program … [More]

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4. Forensic Science And A New Sort of Cinderella Story

   Apr 28, 2011 —

   Once upon a time, a 46-year-old woman was walking in her local neighborhood in Queens, NY. She was accosted by two men, one of whom pulled a gun on her. They ordered her to walk to her home. When they arrived, the women secretly hoped that her husband would answer the door. However, they were … [More]

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5. Concerning The Medical Use of Cannibas In Washington – SB 5073 To Be Debated Today

   Mar 30, 2011 —

   Considered by some to be the most comprehensive piece of Washington State’s medical marijuana legislation, SB 5073 is to be debated today in the Ways and Means Committee after passing the Senate 29-20.  The bill currently has the support of the medical establishment, the entire Seattle City Council, and the King County Medical Society.  The … [More]

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6. A Strange New World-A Look at Marijuana Dispensaries

   Dec 31, 2010 —

   In Seattle, as in other parts of the country like California, there seems to be a noticeable upsurge in the amount of marijuana dispensaries being opened. Smoking marijuana has certainly come a long way from being a clandestine, criminal activity. Entrepreneurs and marijuana activists are boldly blazing the trail, and slowly but surely the taboo … [More]

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7. Washington’s Medical Marijuana-What is a “Qualifying Patient”

   Dec 24, 2010 —

   Doctors Note does not prevent Prosecution Under the medical marijuana initiative, it is perfectly legal for individuals to use marijuana for specific medical ailments. If a person has a medical condition that qualifies, a physician can grant them a medical marijuana authorization after they have been advised of the benefits vs. risks. The law provides … [More]

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8. With More Budget Cuts Proposed, the Mentally Ill will be on the Streets

   Dec 21, 2010 —

   The irony here is that while the state tries to save money, it is not taking into account the cost of public safety and crime prevention. The programs that are being cut would actually save tax payers in the long run. Without these programs, mentally ill patients will be out on the streets, where they are apt to engage in criminal behavior. … [More]

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9. Medical Marijuana Certificate Won’t Stop the Police

   Dec 16, 2010 —

   A medical marijuana certificate will not prevent police officers from obtaining a search warrant, entering your home, and hauling you away to jail. In addition, according to the Supreme Court, your prosecution won’t be barred by the medical marijuana certificate and you will have to hire an attorney to assert a defense in a criminal trial … [More]

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10. Masks-Not Just for Halloween Anymore

    Dec 14, 2010 —

    Thieves have found another innovative way to disguise themselves during the commission of a crime. Gone are the days of donning a nylon stocking or ski mask to conceal their identity. Bank robbers are now  using hyper-realistic masks. These masks are so lifelike, they can make a young 20 year old man look like someone 50 years older, or make you look like a different race or ethnicity … [More]

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