Veterans face different challenges than civilians and the justice system is paying attention. Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11 every year. It marks the day we recognize and honor the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who have served our country. We honor the individuals who devoted themselves to protecting the United States….
Veterans Day is always an important day for us here at the office. We strongly advocated for a Veterans court in Scottsdale modeled after the highly effective and successful Phoenix Veterans Court. We have written extensively on the unique challenges veterans face and how services for veterans can be grossly inadequate. When veterans do not…
What a year it has been! For better or worse, 2016 was a year of significant changes in so many aspects of our lives, especially here in Arizona. 2017 will bring a new sheriff, Paul Penzone, to Maricopa County and a higher minimum wage. We’ll be waiting to see what, if any, impact this will…
This year, approximately twenty men will return to their homes, places they have not seen in 75 years. Through the use of dental records, DNA technology, and manifests from the Arizona and the Oklahoma, their remains have been identified and returned from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Though few, if any, in their hometowns will have specific…
This week has been a rollercoaster for our nation—and whether you’re happy, sad, hopeful, or in despair, please take today to put aside whatever you’re feeling and remember that there is a large group of people who have given freely of themselves and deserve our unencumbered respect and thanks. Today was first honored nearly one…
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again! Those of you familiar with the work of our firm know that we have been working passionately and closely with members of the regional veteran’s court, various City of Phoenix criminal justice personnel, and groups sympathetic to veteran’s issues to persuade the City of Scottsdale to host its…
Maybe you think we sound like a broken record, but when we hear about amazing ways that Veterans Courts are helping change lives locally and in other states, we want that for all of the veterans in our community, regardless of where they live or where their charges were filed. From Phoenix to North Carolina…
You have just been ordered to spend 24 hours in jail. You are booked and processed you are stripped, searched, and dressed in a not so freshly laundered cotton jumpsuit. You are fairly certain you have missed dinner. As you sink down on your bunk you sigh in relief that it is only 24 hours. …
The 4th of July is right around the corner and for many of us, that means partaking in one of America’s great pastimes—fireworks. Why do we celebrate with these rockets of firepower anyway? A Little July Fourth History Consider a letter written by John Adams. Before the Declaration of Independence was even signed, he envisioned…
As you wind down from your plans for this long Memorial Day weekend, take some time today to be thankful and reflect upon the lives that have been lost along the way. Our servicemen and women have fought for centuries to protect our values and freedoms, and many have given the ultimate sacrifice, their lives,…
