Monthly Archives: November 2016

Drivers' License Suspension Leads to Blow-and-Go

When dealing with the consequences of a Washington state DUI what a layman may not quite understand is that part of any DUI sentence is the absolute requirement of obtaining and maintaining an ignition interlock device. The device, in layman’s terms, is called a ‘blow-and-go’ (hereinafter, “IID”). It is a device a driver has to… Continue Reading »

Sentencing Alternatives

SQ Attorneys

Every day in courts throughout the United States, defendants are sentenced to crimes. Many times the defendant will be sentenced to jail or prison, and sometimes the respective Judge may impose jail alternatives. Sentences for a criminal conviction can take many forms, and a conviction doesn’t always mean a trip to jail or prison. Alternative… Continue Reading »

Benefits of a Plea Deal

We at SQ Attorneys have often been asked, ‘why would a prosecutor cut a plea deal on my case; why don’t I just plead guilty and get this over with?’ Although there may be several reasons a prosecutor may want to resolve a case rather than take the case before a jury, the most obvious… Continue Reading »

The Role of The Lawyer

Soon after a defendant explains his or her story to a criminal lawyer, they will probably collaborate with each other to come up with a strategy that will work best in court. Generally speaking, this strategy will be based upon the story that the defendant tells his or her attorney, but in most cases will… Continue Reading »

CDL at Risk when DUI

It is common knowledge that drivers of commercial motor vehicles must possess a special license entitled a ‘commercial driver’s license’ (commonly referred to as a ‘CDL’) in order to operate the commercial motor vehicle. What may not be so obvious, however, is that a DUI can impact a person’s right to possess and retain a CDL. In truth, a… Continue Reading »

The Sixth Amendment

So you have been charged with a crime and now you are in need of an attorney? A criminal defendant’s right to an attorney is found in the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which requires the “assistance of counsel” for the accused in all criminal prosecutions. This means that a defendant has a constitutional… Continue Reading »

Probation – Being Under the Court's Thumb

The law requires that you receive a set of penalties when convicted of a crime. Such penalties generally include fines and jail time. Many crimes, however, also include another penalty – probation. Probation essentially is a set of conditions that a defendant has to abide by for a period of time. They are issued by… Continue Reading »

Types of Evidence

Evidence exists in many different forms. Many of which are introduced in trial and some that are not. Scientific and forensic types of evidence can be extremely helpful in proving a case, but there are rules and standards that these types of evidence must meet before they can be submitted during a trial. Scientific evidence… Continue Reading »

How Success is Achieved

In Washington State there are commonly two ways a prosecutor tries to prove someone drove while under the influence of alcohol. First, they try to prove the defendant was DUI by the tried-and-true  ‘totality of the circumstances’; I refer to this as the ‘throw the bowl of noodles against the wall and see what sticks’ approach.… Continue Reading »