Gordon Thompson
2/5/16 Arizona Court of Appeals rules that a driver violates traffic law prohibiting vehicle movements when other vehicles could be affected, applies when the other vehicle is a police vehicle. The police cannot stop any motor vehicle unless they have a constitutionally permitted reason for doing so. If the police do stop a vehicle without…
2/5/16 In an Arizona criminal trial when an alternate is called on to replace one of the jurors the judge must tell jurors they must start deliberations anew, and if they are not so told the conviction can be reversed. https://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/0/OpinionFiles/Div1/2015/1%20CA-CR%2015-0074.pdf If you’ve been charged with DUI or another criminal offense, getting help from an…
Arizona Supreme Court Rules Trial Judge Should Have Let Defense Expert Impeach State Firearms Expert
2/4/16 Arizona Rules of Evidence, Rule 702 allows an expert witness to testify if, among other things, the witness is qualified and the expert’s scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will help the trier of fact to understand the evidence. Trial courts serve as the “gatekeepers” of admissibility for expert testimony, with the aim of…
1/28/16 Several police agencies around the Valley are conducting DUI Task Force operations January 27th – February 6, 2016, while Phoenix plays host to the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction and the Waste Management Phoenix Open events. Reported to be participating are the Scottsdale, Chandler, Phoenix, Gilbert and Tempe City Police Departments, in addition to the…
11/26/15 A DUI or criminal conviction, misdemeanor or felony, can come with consequences which may not be widely known or easily thought of. College students or college hopefuls who receive a DUI or criminal conviction may not be able to proceed with their educational and career goals, depending on the criteria held by the educational…
11/25/15 In a decision released on November 20, 2015, the Arizona Supreme Court upheld the use of the Medical Marijuana Act as a defense for DUIs. The Court’s decision says that if a Medical Marijuana card holder is charged with a violation of 28 A.R.S. § 1381.A.3, DUI with Any Marijuana in the Body, the…
10/1/15 The Arizona Daily Star reports that Tucson city police and the FBI are investigating 34 acts of vandalism and sabotage that have occurred since 2013. The general area where the incidents have been reported are in the area bounded by Broadway, Interstate 10, Craycroft and Houghton Roads. Many of the acts of vandalism were…
A charge of driving under the influence is very serious and can have stiff penalties. Yet if you are a public transportation driver — such as a bus driver, taxi driver or train conductor — the penalties can be far more severe. Working with an experienced DUI attorney in Mesa can help you get the…
We’ve all seen depictions of field sobriety tests in television and the movies. An officer tells an obviously drunk driver to walk a line and touch his nose, but the driver wobbles along, hands held out to the sides, barely standing upright. These tests are often the source of comic relief in movies, as the…