Posts by Drew Cochran

As a criminal defense lawyer, I spend a lot of time arguing with cops. It comes with the job. People think we’re on opposite sides of the law, but that’s not really true. We’re both supposed to be upholding the laws, even if we do it in different ways. So when police officers suddenly find…

Whether you’re into DC or Marvel, movies or comics, we can all agree on one basic idea: superheroes are awesome. It’s a fun fantasy, the idea of some super-powered, ultra-moral person above the agendas and borders of modern law and society, saving people and defeating evil. Usually there’s spandex involved. No one’s allowed to question…

The right to a fair trial with a jury of your peers has been upheld in this country for centuries. Almost every citizen over 18 in the country has been summoned to jury duty at some point in their lives, even if they get dismissed for whatever reason before they enter the court. That being…

There are a handful of ways you can get out of prison: you can serve your time in full, you can receive a full pardon, or you can get out early on parole. In some cases, however, a judge might suspend your sentence and put you on probation instead. On October 1, 2016, the Justice Reinvestment…

In the movies, someone having a warrant out for their arrest usually means some sort of high-speed chase is coming up, or maybe a SWAT team is en route to “have you surrounded.” It’s a very dramatic ordeal. Fast-paced, stressful, and life-ruining, it’s no wonder most people live in fear of receiving one for whatever…

It’s been a very, very long year. We have all gone through unimaginable hardship thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the vaccines only now becoming fully accessible, we are finally starting to recover. Yes, COVID is still here. You still need to be responsible and take all precautions. But the statewide positivity rate is…

The United States of America is known for many things, and amongst those many things are our relatively strict drinking laws. Most other countries allow minors to consume alcohol as young as 16 with family and 18 on their own, whereas here in the states — as you know — it’s unanimously 21. That being…

There are few things more frustrating and stressful than being accused of something you didn’t do, and when those accusations lead to legal ramifications, well, that only makes it worse. For example, the act of shoplifting – otherwise known as the petty theft of another’s property – is an incredibly common crime with consequences more…