Blog - Law Office of Shawn P. Sweeney

27Oct 2020 by Pat Geddie

Is NH Violating a Defendant’s Right to a Public Trial?

Criminal cases do not come to a halt because of a pandemic, and criminal courts throughout the United States have been finding solutions to prevent delays. Courts in Austin recently held the first criminal trial entirely by Zoom, for example. Courts in New Hampshire have been holding trials in court since August, but for social distancing purposes, the courtroom has been closed to the public. Instead, the courts have been live-streaming jury trials online for the public to watch. Now, however, the New Hampshire Superior Court announced a change in this live-streaming policy. Moving forward, the testimony of victims will not be live-streamed unless the victim consents. This is based on victims’ advocates stating that many crime victims might not testify if they knew the trial was being live-streamed. While…

21Sep 2020 by Pat Geddie

Should You Plead Guilty to Criminal Charges?

Criminal Defense

If you are facing criminal charges, there’s a good chance you have a lot of questions about your case and your future. One of the first things you should keep in mind is that the vast majority of criminal cases do not go to trial - instead, they are resolved through the plea bargain (or plea agreement) process. In a plea bargain, a defendant decides to plead guilty in return for the prosecutor recommending lesser charges or a lenient sentence to the judge. Plea bargains can benefit both parties. Prosecutors do not have to spend the resources it takes to bring a case to trial, and defendants can typically count on a more lenient sentence and have more certainty about the outcome of their case. In fact, in some scenarios,…

11Aug 2020 by Pat Geddie

How a Criminal Conviction Can Impact Your Career

Criminal Defense

If you are facing criminal charges, your immediate concerns might be avoiding time in jail, fines, and other penalties imposed by the criminal court. While these are serious matters, you should also be aware of the possible effects that a criminal conviction can have on your job and career trajectory. These consequences can persist long after you complete a judge-ordered sentence, and they are a critical reason why you should aggressively defend against any charges with the help of the right Bedford criminal defense lawyer. Losing your job - Many people who are convicted of crimes might lose their jobs for various reasons. First, if you have to spend time in jail, you cannot report to work, which will result in being fired. If your driver’s license is suspended due…

06Jul 2020 by Pat Geddie

Marijuana Possession in New Hampshire

Uncategorized

Even as states surrounding New Hampshire are legalizing recreational marijuana, the Granite State has not yet passed a similar law. This means that if you possess marijuana in New Hampshire without medical permission, you can face penalties under the law. The good news is that New Hampshire has decriminalized marijuana possession under many circumstances. If you are accused of possessing less than .75 ounces for personal use, you will not face any possible jail time, and the maximum penalty for a first or second offense is a $100 fine. However, there are still many situations in which marijuana possession can result in criminal charges, including: Possessing more than .75 ounces for personal use = Misdemeanor charge with up to one year in jail and $350 in finesPossessing less than an…

01May 2020 by Pat Geddie

Do I Need a Lawyer for My First DUI?

DUI

If you have recently been arrested for drunk driving for the first time, you are probably worried about your future and uncertain about what to do next. While you may be under the impression that a first-offense DUI is not a serious matter, the reality is that any drunk driving offense can result in serious legal and collateral consequences that can affect your life for years to come. For this reason, it’s critical to retain an attorney to represent you for any DUI case. Under New Hampshire law, it is illegal to drive a car with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of more than .08 or while you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs which impair your ability to drive. Importantly, the way the law is written makes…

Call Us Today

603.589.8015