Ann Arbor Criminal Defense Blog

Picture the common situation where a minor has drank alcohol to the point of sickness. The minor, fearing legal repercussions, chooses not to seek health treatment, making a bad situation worse. Changes to the minor in possession law attempt to remedy the situation. Minors will now have immunity from prosecution for a minor in possession…

The Michigan Court of Appeals in People v. Bono discusses the Michigan Gross Indecency statute. To be specific, the Court answered the question of whether masturbation was an act of gross indecency, and whether the jury instructions for gross indecency must be limited to penetration, fellatio, and cunnilingus, or can be expanded to other acts…

Michigan’s new arson law goes into effect today. It has been completely rewritten to reflect the following; 1. First Degree Arson. The wilful or malicious burning of any of the following. First degree arson is a felony, punishable by life or any term of years, a $20,000 fine / 3 times the value of the…

Under the Sixth Amendment criminal defendants are guaranteed the right to effective assistance of counsel. In the case of Missouri v. Frye, the U.S. Supreme Court held that effective assistance means that defense counsel must communicate offers for plea bargains to the defendants. In the summer of 2007 Frye was charged with driving with a…

The United States Supreme Court, in Howes v. Fields, rejected a per se rule that questioning a prison inmate in a room isolated from the general prison population about events occurring outside the prison is custodial interrogation. The Fifth Amendment of the Constitution requires that a person in “custodial interrogation” be read Miranda rights, those…

The Michigan Supreme Court took up some important issues related to the Michigan Gross Indecency Law in the consolidated cases of People v. Lino and People v. Bashier. Issues of the Case There were four issues in these cases: Is the Michigan Gross Indecency Statute unconstitutionally vague? Whether the standard of common sense of the…

Two Michigan laws that went into effect this past week will deny certain insurance benefits related to medical marijuana. Employers will not be required to provide reimbursement for expenses related to medical marihuana under worker’s compensation benefits. MCL 418.315a. Personal protection insurance benefits, also known as no-fault car insurance, will not be required to cover…

In the case of People v. Tipolt, the Court of Appeals discusses the foundation requirements for the introduction of Breathalyzer evidence for trial. The Facts Defendant Tipolt was arrested in White Lake Township and charged with the equivalent of the driving while intoxicated crimes at the time the case was decided. In the District Court,…

The following is an outline of the new criminal law legislation in Michigan for the year of 2011; I. New Crimes & Penalties A. Bath Salts. 2011 PA 88. Effective Aug. 2, 2011. Adds bath salts that are sold under some of the following trade names to schedule 1; White Lighting, Scarface, Sonic, White Dove,…

The Fourth Amendment requires that police obtain a warrant before entering a home though there are some exceptions. One exception involves a situation in which evidence of a crime is being destroyed. In the case of Kentucky v. King, the U.S. Supreme Court addressed the question of whether this rule applies when the police, by…