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What Does It Mean To Be a Board-Certified Criminal Defense Specialist in Arizona?
The Arizona Board of Legal Specialization identifies lawyers who have demonstrated superior knowledge, skill, integrity, professionalism, and competence in a specific area of law, to better serve the public. REQUIREMENTS FOR BOARD CERTIFICATION IN CRIMINAL LAW IN ARIZONA? To qualify for a criminal law certification, an attorney must: Be licensed to practice law for at…
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Mitigation in a Criminal Case
In addition to arguing any legal issues that may exist in a case, Castillo Law also works tirelessly to present mitigation to the Prosecuting Agency and the Judge on behalf of our clients. A.R.S. § 13-751(G) defines mitigation as evidence relevant to “any aspect of the defendant’s character, propensities or record and any of the circumstances…
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Social Media Usage in a Criminal Case
Advancements in technology have changed how we interact with one another. It seems everyone from your third-grade teacher to your junior high ex are on social media nowadays. According to Pew Research Center, as of April 2021, 72% of the U.S. adult population used at least one social media site – with the number of…
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Don’t Get Stung in a Sting Operation in Arizona
Technological advances have made it much easier for law enforcement to run sting operations. The most prevalent internet sting operations are operations that involve the creation of sex crimes against minors while utilizing the internet, social media apps, and online gaming. In a sex sting operation, law enforcement creates a crime for vulnerable or susceptible…
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New Arizona Law Prohibits Recording Police
Governor Ducey signed House Bill 2319 into law which will make it illegal to video record law enforcement activity within 8 feet, after having received a verbal warning not to do so by police. Law enforcement activity includes questioning a suspicious person, conducting an arrest, issuing a summons, enforcing the law, and/or handling an emotional…
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What happens if a cop violates my Miranda rights after the Supreme Court holding in Vega v. Tekoh?
Recently, the Supreme Court held that a defendant who has suffered a violation of Miranda is NOT entitled to sue under 14 U.S.C. § 1983. Under 42 U.S.C. §1983, a private individual is allowed to file a lawsuit against any person who is acting as an agent of the state, and deprives that individual of…
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Following Roe v Wade’s reversal, what is the Abortion law in Arizona?
On Friday, June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court officially overturned Roe v. Wade, which was the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case that established a constitutional right to abortion. The U.S. Supreme Court has decided that each individual state is allowed to make its own laws concerning abortion. Before Roe v. Wade, Arizona had already…
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Maricopa County Diversion Program for Veterans
Are you a Veteran of the Armed Forces currently being charged or investigated for a crime in Maricopa County? If so, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office has recently launched a diversion program scheduled to begin in April of 2022 to assist some Veterans in resolving their felony case without a criminal conviction. The length of…
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Celebrating the 4th of July in the Valley of the Sun
If you are staying in the Phoenix area this 4th of July, there are no shortage of events to celebrate this year! The City of Phoenix canceled their annual Fabulous Phoenix Fourth, but we’ve rounded up a short list of free events in the surrounding areas that are sure to light your fire! The City…
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No Contest Plea
A plea of guilty and a plea of not-guilty tend to be more widely understood than a plea of no contest, as the latter is far less common. Essentially, entering a plea of no contest, from the Latin phrase “nolo contendere”, means you are NOT admitting guilt, but do not desire to contest your charges.…
