Latest and Greatest - Suppressing Criminal Evidence

Are you considering filing a motion to suppress evidence that was obtained through a warrantless search of your client’s vehicle?

By Deja Vishny

James Publishing, Inc. (2016)

KF 9662 .V57 2016

Do you want to challenge a coerced confession or one made under Miranda v. Arizona?

Then, look than further than the Harris County Law Library’s new acquisition, Suppressing Criminal Evidence. This volume, complete with forms, will guide you, step-by-step, through the process of filing a motion to suppress from the initial client interview and discovery through actually drafting the motion and litigating it in court. The author provides a summary of the laws surrounding Fourth Amendment searches and seizures, including searches of the home, the standards of probable cause and reasonable suspicion, motor vehicle searches, and searches and seizures of electronic devices. She also discusses the suppression of confessions and other statements and police interrogation practices. Included in this volume are over 40 forms including sample motions to suppress and more than 80 pattern cross-examinations to assist you during the hearing on your motion to suppress. There are numerous practice pointers and tips throughout the book.

Before you file your next (or first) motion to suppress, come to the Harris County Law Library and have a look at Suppressing Criminal Evidence. Who knows? That evidence you got suppressed just may save your client.

Simplifying Your Legal Writing with Microsoft Word Tech Tips

Built into Microsoft Office are a number of simple, user-friendly mechanisms that are guaranteed to make your legal writing much less frustrating. A previous Tech Tuesday tip focused on using the Styles feature in Microsoft Word. Today’s recommendation, using Cross References to simplify and streamline the writing process, is another useful tool.

When you will be referencing a specific table or citing a particular source more than once, the cross-reference feature can be immensely helpful. Any numbered item (endnote, footnote, figure, or table) that is changed mid-text, can be automatically updated with each revision. If additional tables or footnotes are added, the software will shift the numeration to accommodate the new sequence, correcting every instance of the referenced item wherever it appears throughout the text. This saves you the headache of trying to making the changes manually and ensures that consecutive numbering is maintained. For detailed instructions on how to make cross-reference in Word work for you, visit this post from the Legal Sourcery [sic] blog.

Simple, effective, and efficient applications of the technology we’re already using is the key to saving money and can make a tremendous difference in the daily practice of law.

Law Day 2016: Miranda - More Than Words

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court case, Miranda v. Arizona. In recognition of this historic decision, the American Bar Association has dedicated its annual Law Day celebration to the impact of Miranda and its role in safeguarding our personal rights. The theme -- Miranda: More Than Words – will “explore the procedural protections afforded to all of us by the U.S. Constitution, how these rights are safeguarded by the courts, and why the preservation of these principles is essential to our liberty.” (ABA)

To commemorate the Miranda decision, the Harris County Law Library has created an exhibit, which is currently on display in the library lobby. Three prize-winning posters, submitted to the Houston Bar Association’s annual Law Day contest, are also on view, along with a display copy of the contest’s  winning essay. We are grateful to the HBA and local school children for sharing this beautiful selection of artwork and writing with the library and its visitors.

Every week in the month of May, Ex Libris Juris will spotlight some aspect of the Miranda ruling. These “Miranda Monday” blog posts will explore how the case has influenced the administration of justice and the protection of our rights. Until next week, Happy Law Day!