by Stone River Law | Nov 20, 2023 | Criminal Defense
The process depends on the nature and severity of your felony. There are certain felonies that are not eligible to be expunged. These include first-degree felonies, felony DUIs, violent and capital felonies, registerable sex or child abuse offenses, or felony...
by Stone River Law | Nov 20, 2023 | Criminal Defense
The first hearing in a misdemeanor criminal case is normally the “arraignment” hearing, where the judge will read the charges formally filed in the case and ask the defendant to enter plea of either guilty or not guilty. In Utah felony cases, the...
by Stone River Law | Nov 20, 2023 | Criminal Defense
Under Utah law, an “acquittal” and a “not guilty” verdict have essentially the same meaning. But neither of these terms is a declaration that the defendant is factually innocent. The criminal justice system relies on a presumption of innocence...
by Stone River Law | Nov 20, 2023 | Criminal Defense
In a misdemeanor criminal case, the arraignment hearing is the first court hearing held. The judge will read the formal charges and ask the defendant to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. The judge may also ask the defendant if an attorney has been hired, if a...
by Stone River Law | Nov 20, 2023 | Criminal Defense
There can be circumstances that simply make it impossible or impractical to be physically present at a scheduled criminal arraignment hearing. Health and distance are two common reasons, but there may be others as well. In misdemeanor cases, some Utah courts will...
by Stone River Law | Nov 20, 2023 | Utah Appellate Court Opinions
In State v. Ruiz, the Utah Court of Appeals addressed Fourth Amendment issues relating to the use of a drug detection canine (K9) to conduct a search of a vehicle during a traffic stop. The district court had denied the defense motion to suppress. The defendant...
