by Stone River Law | Nov 19, 2023 | Utah Appellate Court Opinions
The Utah Supreme Court provided an analysis of Fourth Amendment search and seizures issues in the case of State v. Smith, 2022 UT 13. The opinion provides a number of points and clarifications that can be very helpful to defense counsel in challenging police search...
by Stone River Law | Nov 19, 2023 | Criminal Defense
In Utah, police need probable cause to make an arrest. This means they must have facts that would lead a reasonable person to believe a crime was committed. While witnessing a crime often provides probable cause, it can also come from eyewitnesses, physical evidence,...
by Stone River Law | Nov 19, 2023 | Criminal Defense
Best Answer: Talking to police only after you have consulted with a good criminal defense attorney is usually the best course of action. Often, your attorney will advise you not to answer any questions at all. There may be circumstances in which speaking with police...
by Stone River Law | Nov 19, 2023 | Criminal Defense
Duress, coercion, and threats are covered by Utah’s affirmative defense of “compulsion” under Utah Code 76-2-302. The statutory defense of compulsion provides that a person is not guilty of the charged crime if the person was coerced, through the use...
by Stone River Law | Nov 19, 2023 | Criminal Defense
The Case of Williams v. Pennsylvania In Williams v. Pennsylvania (2016), the U.S. Supreme Court took on a critical issue of fairness. The case involved a chief justice who had once prosecuted the defendant but later handled the appeal. Case Background State...
by Stone River Law | Nov 19, 2023 | Criminal Defense
How Many Jurors on a Utah Criminal Jury Utah Code section 78B-1-104 establishes the number of jurors required to compose a jury in criminal trials. Whereas 12 jurors is the norm in federal cases, Utah law allows smaller juries to be seated, except in capital (death...
