A few months ago, I was approached by Otto L. Wheeler, a writer based in Austin, Texas. He asked if I would be willing to consult on a new writing project he was working on, which would take place in Atlanta. Over the course of a few conversations, we talked about the city, the court […]
Fisher’s Findings: Charitable Injustice by Otto L. Wheeler Continue Reading »
Recently, Gwinnett County Solicitor Brian Whiteside announced that the Gwinnett County Solicitor’s Office will no longer hear DUI cases set for motions or trial in the Gwinnett County Recorder’s Court, but will instead bind over those cases to Gwinnett State Court. Subsequently, Solicitor Whiteside filed suit against two Recorder’s Court judges, alleging that they were
Shakeup for Gwinnett County DUI Cases Continue Reading »
Recently, I received a call from a very concerned parent who lived outside of Georgia (for the sake of anonymity, I’m going to keep these personal details vague). The parent had just received a call, allegedly from their child (who lived in Georgia), over a very poor connection. During this call, the “child” stated that
DUI Scam Alert: Don’t Let Fraudsters Steal Your Money Continue Reading »
I recently received word that the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) will be updating its online portal this month and shifting over to a new system that will be more secure. The new system will be called DRIVES, and it will allow Georgia drivers to view the status of their license, ID, or permit,
Georgia DDS System Update Continue Reading »
In case you haven’t heard, today is election day. After a contentious campaign, Americans around the country are taking to the polls. In fact, many have already voted both by absentee/mail-in ballots and during early voting periods. Reports have estimated that early voting totals have, in some states, already surpassed the total number of ballots
Thoughts from a Georgia Lawyer: Go Vote! Continue Reading »
Ask a Georgia Lawyer: What Are My Rights If I’m Stopped by the Police? Asserting your rights is crucial if you are stopped by the police. If you are eventually charged with a crime, asserting your rights can make the difference between a criminal conviction and a dismissal or acquittal. That said, we have seen
What Are My Rights If I’m Stopped by the Police? Continue Reading »
In the midst of a pandemic, it is no longer safe to administer a driving test the old-fashioned way, with an examiner riding in the car and observing the on-road behavior of a prospective teen driver (or other driver’s license applicant). As a result, the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) has been forced to
Georgia DDS Administering Socially-Distanced Driving Test Continue Reading »
Since I began to practice law, I’ve learned that there are many misconceptions about the practice of law, criminal defendants, and the justice system. As a criminal defense attorney, I spend a lot of time debunking these misconceptions, for two major reasons. For one, if you are a Georgia citizen, you could potentially be called to serve as a
Legal Mythbusters: “Pressing” Charges Continue Reading »
The Georgia State Senate is currently considering a measure that would restore voting rights to a number of people with felonies in their pasts. The measure, if implemented, would only apply to non-violent offenders. In the 2016 election, nearly 250,000 Georgians were denied the right to vote. The issue is being studied by the Senate
Georgia Considers Restoring Ex-Offenders’ Voting Rights Continue Reading »
Three months ago, hackers launched a massive ransomware attack that crippled the Georgia Department of Public Safety. The problem remains unresolved, as GSP is still unable to access its computer system or its digital records. It is believed that some records, believed to be from tickets written July 23-26, are simply lost permanently. That will
Georgia State Patrol Still Reeling From Cyber Attack Continue Reading »