Over the last month, Catanzaro Law has explored clemency and its various manifestations in the U.S. legal system. Pardons, commutations, and reprieves have all been used throughout U.S. history to grant some level of leniency to criminals ready for reform. But what do these processes look like to the layperson? How can a criminal apply [...]
Living with a criminal record in New Jersey can feel overwhelming and devastating; a blemished record can turn even the simplest procedures into drawn out difficulties. Job applications, housing opportunities and even educational advancement can be hampered by an unclean record. But errors of the past don’t have to be life sentences, and exploring expungement [...]
For our final installment in our series on landmark criminal cases in United States history, we're taking a look at Dusky vs. United States (1960). You might have heard the phrase "competent to stand trial" quickly mentioned in court dramas like Law & Order. What does this phrase mean? When does it apply? How might [...]
In the past, seeing someone meant you had to physically be in their presence. Robbing a bank required actually going to a bank. Tracing someone's travel patterns involved literally following them. But not anymore. As technology continues to advance, it often takes several years for the law to catch up. The landmark case of Riley [...]
Wrapping up our series on the Sixth Amendment of the US Constitution, we're talking about the confrontation clause. If you're new to this series, check out our blogs on your right to an impartial jury, assistance of counsel, a speedy trial, and notice of accusation. We're reviewing some of the important aspects of this amendment [...]
For the past several weeks we’ve been breaking down the most important statements in the Sixth Amendment. Our goal has been to define and explain all the rights you have according to that amendment. It’s important to know your rights so that you can defend yourself, and hire the best attorney to defend your rights. [...]
In the past month, Libertarian U.S. Representative from Michigan, Justin Amash, has proposed a bill to Congress that would end qualified immunity for government officials. With everything going on in the United States over the past few months, discussions on civil rights have dominated the public square. This proposal is no exception. In order to [...]
Every US citizen has the freedom of assembly thanks to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. But what exactly does this mean? What about freedom of assembly in New Jersey? If you’re curious about your civil rights, you’ve come to the right place. In the past, our blog has covered your rights when [...]
If someone unjustly attacks you and puts your life at risk, you are allowed to defend yourself. But what do you do if that person is a police officer? It’s a hard question. There’s no easy answer. Officers are called to protect and serve the people. But sometimes they wrongfully harm citizens. That’s where rights [...]
Maybe you’ve heard about some of the cases of people getting arrested for not following social distancing rules. Whatever you think about social distancing rules – whether you think they’re violations of our rights, are important rules to follow, or a little bit of both – it’s important to know them! So, along with washing [...]