Robert M. Leen, lawyers in Seattle, WA, Washington

WHEN A DEFENDANT'S RIGHT TO COUNSEL ATTACHES

A defendant's right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment and the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution attaches to any point in the criminal process in which the substantial rights of the defendant may be affected or to any critical stage in the proceedings. In addition, some states have enacted statutes that provide that a criminal defendant has a right to counsel in any adversarial judicial proceeding. More...

MODIFICATION, REDUCTION, & TERMINATION OF PROBATION

A trial judge generally has discretion whether to grant probation to a defendant. In accordance with that discretion, the trial judge is also entitled to modify, to reduce, or to terminate the defendant's probation. More...

WAIVER OF APPEAL

A defendant is entitled to waive his or her right to appeal his or her conviction by a trial court. However, the waiver must be knowingly and intelligently made by the defendant. The waiver may only be made after the defendant's right to appeal has accrued. More...

JURY INSTRUCTIONS ON THE EVIDENCE

A jury's role in a criminal case is to determine the guilt or innocence of a defendant. In accordance with this role, the jury must determine the weight that is to be given to the prosecution's evidence and whether the prosecution has proven the defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In order to make its determination, the jury is given instructions by a trial court. More...

Criminal Violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act

An individual who violates the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)may be charged in either a criminal or civil forum. OSHA was enacted to protect workers from unsafe conditions in the workplace. More...