Criminal Defense
Secret Juror Investigations in Maricopa County Raise Serious Concerns
ABC15 recently reported that prosecutors with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office used detectives and a confidential FBI database to secretly investigate jurors in a death penalty case. As a criminal defense attorney, I think this raises some serious concerns. According to ABC15’s reporting, prosecutors first asked the judge to remove certain jurors based in part…
Read MoreJames Palestini on Networking Arizona with Carol Blonder
James Palestini Featured on Networking Arizona with Carol Blonder Palestini Law was recently featured on Networking Arizona, an interview-style show hosted by Carol Blonder that helps local businesses and professionals share what they do with the Arizona community. If you’d like to get to know James a little better and hear him discuss helpful legal…
Read MoreYour Second Chance Starts Here: Arizona’s Certificate of Second Chance Explained
It’s a cliche as old as time: what would you do if you had a second chance? What would you do differently, or what would you not do at all? The possibilities are likely endless, but what if you could get a second chance, legally-speaking? We’ve talked about sealing your record and set-asides before, but…
Read MoreSealing A Record
As we close out 2024 and everyone starts posting their resolutions and their “new year, new me” mantras, you might find yourself struggling to make your own list of things to work on. While some goals seem easy, it can be even easier to get lost in making a list that only serves to get…
Read MoreHalloween Costumes
It may not feel like it with this September heat, but spooky season is upon us! Pumpkin spice is back, the nights are cooling down, and the empty storefronts have made their annual transformation into Spirit stores. For those of you out there still on the fence, you only have 52 days left to decide…
Read MoreCitizens Arrest for Shoplifting
By now, you’ve probably heard all about the ever-growing wave of property theft throughout the US. As retailers shutter stores in areas that refuse to prosecute shoplifters, Arizona doubles down on its claim to being the last true heart of the wild west with this week’s passage of SB1613, which amends the current citizens arrest…
Read MoreThe Gilbert Goons
Typically when I think of Gilbert, I think of a quiet but sneakily robust downtown and sticking to the speed limit. Now, however, the good name of Gilbert has been tarnished by a string of incidents allegedly perpetrated by the aptly named “Gilbert Goons.” This “gang” has been responsible for multiple parking lot attacks, threatening…
Read MoreWhat to Do if You’re Accused of Domestic Violence in Arizona
Generally I like to start these posts in a lighthearted manner, but today’s topic is no joke and it’s quickly becoming the majority of my caseload: domestic violence. As a defense attorney, I’ve seen my fair share of domestic violence cases, and I’ve seen the amount of physical and emotional pain a domestic violence situation…
Read MoreThe Alabama Slamma
By now you’ve likely seen footage of what’s being called the Alabama Tea Party, the Riverboat Rumble, and the ‘Bama Brawl – the now infamous footage of a multi-man melee that broke out last weekend when an argument over a boat docking post turned into a no-holds-barred free-for-all, complete with a folding-chair headshot that made…
Read MoreIs Sexting a Crime?
“Keep it in your pants” is generally pretty sound advice. Unless you’re in the bathroom or getting ready for bed, there’s really not a whole lot of good that follows unzipping your pants anywhere else. However, when two people like each other very, very much… sometimes… you take off your pants and send each other…
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