Legal Analysis

Recent Cases

A Second Chance for First Offender Act Treatment in Georgia Criminal Cases

November 25, 2015

A new Georgia law allows people to take advantage of the First Offender Act even after they have been sentenced. Under Georgia’s First Offender Act, an individual’s criminal case is discharged and the individual is completely exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing. Before the change in law, an individual could only receive First Offender treatment at […]

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What is “Depraved Heart” Murder?

May 1, 2015

One of the Baltimore City Police Officers involved in the death of Freddie Gray was charged today with second degree “depraved heart” murder. Under Maryland law, the penalty for this crime is up to thirty years in prison. There are several legal terms used to describe “depraved heart” murder – “wanton indifference” and “reckless endangerment” […]

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Page Pate discusses potential extradition treaty with China

December 15, 2014

International attorney Page Pate comments on the lack of a formal extradition treaty with China.

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Georgia Drug Laws: Drug Crimes and Common Defenses

September 21, 2014

Page Pate discusses the different types of drug crimes in Georgia and some defense our firm has used to win these cases at trial. Over the past 20 years, our firm has handled a lot of drug cases in Georgia courts. We’ve been able to get some of them dismissed because the evidence was not […]

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Who Can Apply for a Sentence Reduction Under the Recent “Drugs Minus Two” Federal Sentencing Guideline Amendment?

July 29, 2014

Only July 18, 2014, the United States Sentencing Commission unanimously voted to make a recent amendment to the federal sentencing guidelines retroactive. The amendment was a significant change to the drug quantity table in §2D1.1 that the Sentencing Commission unanimously approved in April. Generally, the “Drugs Minus Two” amendment reduces the base offense level by […]

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