The Story Behind a Dismissal
I will never forget the panic in Barbara’s voice on the phone. Her husband, Larry Orr, had just been arrested at their home. A few hours later, he went before a magistrate to be arraigned. This is the first court proceeding in a criminal case — where Larry would find out the charges lodged against […]
CDAM Fall Conference 2019
Earlier this month, our team at Smith Blythe trekked up north to attend the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan Fall Conference at Boyne Mountain. Because I was a part of the committee who selected and invited our keynote speakers, our whole team, including our support staff, came for the conference. The keynote speakers were fantastic. […]
Let’s Talk About Richard Jewell
As a criminal defense attorney, I’m compelled to write about Richard Jewell. A movie that deeply explores the criminal justice system despite the fact no charges are brought, no arrests are made, there is no trial, no courtroom histrionics, no suspenseful appeals. Instead, there’s a man ‘just’ suspected of a horrific crime – the Atlanta Centennial […]
A Few Comments About Comments
We get comments about more than a few of the things we write about. After a few a pattern emerges. In the last few weeks we published blog posts about Roger Clemens and his trial(s) for perjury and lying to Congress and the movie Richard Jewell. We’ve also posted more than few Facebook posts about some […]
The Top 10 Things to Do and Know When Your Teenager or College Student is Accused of Criminal Sexual Conduct
Having children is stressful. There is no doubt. As a mother of four, I constantly sit back and reflect on what it’s like to have a 6, 7, 9 and 10 year old. But my friends all say the same thing…”Bigger kids mean bigger problems.” And I see that in my work. Too often. Recently […]
Happy New Year! A Review of Smith Blythe 2019 Jury Trials
Back in January, the trial attorneys at Smith Blythe got together to reflect on 2019. Over lunch, we talked about what worked well for us, what led to success in our cases, and of course, where we can improve. We ended up talking a lot about the jury trials we had in 2019 and the […]
Confusion about the 4 Degrees of Criminal Sexual Conduct in Michigan
In Michigan there are four degrees of criminal sexual conduct that most sexual offenses fall under. Criminal sexual conduct cases are routinely referred to as CSC cases. So a fourth degree criminal sexual conduct for example, may be referred to as a CSC 4. It is not unusual for a person facing multiple counts to be charged […]
Strategies for Defending Child Criminal Sexual Conduct Cases
Strategies for Lawyers to Consider When Defending Child Criminal Sexual Conduct Cases Cases involving allegations of criminal sexual conduct by children are some of the hardest cases to defend. The stakes could not be higher; the accused could not be more frightened; and much of the rest of the world will repeatedly and rhetorically ask, […]
Avoiding the “Backstairs Justice System”
We have a lawyer friend in New England who coined the term “Backstairs Justice System” a few years ago. It’s a pretty highly descriptive term to those of us who have been in and out of courtrooms defending serious criminal cases over the years. For those who haven’t, it’s this: the Backstairs Justice System is […]
“They Must Be Believed”
If you were alive, kicking, and even a tiny bit aware during the 1980’s the odds are pretty high you vividly remember the Tigers cruising to a World Series, standing in line to see Ghostbusters or Back to the Future, and/or watching the ending of St. Elsewhere. What you have probably forgotten – as it […]