Your home is your castle, and Texas law grants you the right to protect it (and yourself). But how far are you allowed to go to protect yourself? Sometimes, use of deadly force is justified, while sometimes homeowners have a duty to retreat. It can seem confusing. Here’s what you need to know to protect …
Texas Self-Defense Laws: Castle Doctrine and Stand Your Ground Read More »
You can’t shoot someone simply for trespassing in Texas, but you can take other actions to defend your property. Many of our clients are gun owners, and they often believe that they have the right to use those guns to protect themselves under any circumstance. However, the legal right to own and carry a gun …
Very few people enjoy jury duty, but serving is a hardship for some. From exemptions to what to say during voir dire, our lawyers explain how to avoid being picked.
In Texas courts, PSI is shorthand for a Presentence Investigation Report. Texas judges use this document to assess punishment for a felony crime. The federal court system uses a similar report known as a Presentence Report (PSR). Both PSIs and PSRs are at least partially based on interviews with defendants and details of the defendant’s …
Aggravated sexual assault involves a sexual assault with at least one aggravating factor that increases the offense’s severity.
For immediate release October 31, 2024 LAMPASAS COUNTY, Texas—In a resounding victory for justice, Michael & Associates announced that City of Lometa Police Chief Melissa Cantu has been cleared of all charges in a high-profile case that showcased deep-rooted issues within City Hall in Lometa, Texas, and exposed the ugly side of small-town corruption. Cantu, …
Michael & Associates Secures Win For Local Police Chief Against Corrupt City Officials Read More »
Capital murder is the most serious offense you can commit in Texas. It means committing a premeditated murder but with aggravating factors that elevate the charge to a “capital” felony. In Texas, capital murder is a death penalty offense, while first-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. Capital Murder vs. First-Degree Murder …
Family violence is defined by Chapter 71.004 of the Texas Family Code as acts by one member of a family or household against another member of that same family or household with the intent of bodily injury, physical harm, or sexual assault. No harm needs to occur; reasonable fear that physical harm is imminent is …
Domestic Assault / Family Violence in Texas: Charges & Consequences Read More »
Plan B and other emergency contraceptives, including a separate medication called “Ella” that helps prevent pregnancy within 72 hours after having unprotected sex, are legal in Texas. These contraceptives are not the same as “medicated abortion pills.” This is where the confusion arises about which medications are legal. Texas’s strict abortion laws do not affect …
Texas has paid almost $100 million in lump-sum payments since 2009 to 95 men and women for wrongful convictions, according to state records requested by Michael & Associates, a criminal defense law firm based in Austin, Texas, under the state’s Public Information Act. The state also pays a monthly annuity to each qualified exoneree. The …
Texas Has Paid Almost $100 Million to Exonerees Since 2009 Read More »