Articles Posted in Criminal Defense

When you’ve handled thousands of criminal cases like we have at McCormick Lawrence, you start to notice a pattern: people make the same mistakes over and over again. We get it — being charged with a crime is stressful, confusing, and most people don’t know what to expect. But some of the most common slip-ups…

If you or someone you love has been arrested for a felony in Mississippi, one of the first steps in the criminal process may be a preliminary hearing. But what is it—and why does it matter? Here’s what you need to know: 1. You Have a Right to a Preliminary Hearing—But Only If You’re Not…

Here at McCormick Lawrence, PLLC, attorneys Cameron McCormick and Bay Lawrence have handled hundreds of burglary and theft cases—and we know the law inside and out. But in Mississippi, the word burglary can mean a whole lot more than just breaking into a house. Let’s break it down. What Counts as Burglary? Under Mississippi law,…

In any criminal case, evidence can make or break the defense. It’s not uncommon in our criminal defense practice for us to allege the state lost evidence or failed to preserve evidence. Sometimes, these allegations are hard to prove. But what happens if that evidence really is lost—or worse, destroyed? Does that lead to my…

Short answer: No—unless a legal exception applies. Under both the U.S. and Mississippi Constitutions, your home is entitled to the highest level of privacy protection. That means police generally cannot search your house without a warrant signed by a judge. There are, however, a few narrow exceptions to this rule—one of the most important being…

In our practice, we often find ourselves waiting on a grand jury to take action in a case—typically one involving felony-level charges. So what exactly is a grand jury, and what do they do? Here’s a straightforward breakdown of how grand juries work, why their proceedings are secret, and what role they play in Mississippi’s…

Answered by a Mississippi Criminal Defense Attorney One of the most common cases we handle in our practice is domestic violence. Domestic violence charges in Mississippi are serious — and often complex. Whether you’re facing charges or concerned about a family member or friend, it’s important to understand the law around domestic violence cases and…

If you have a felony conviction under Mississippi law, you may be wondering whether you can have it expunged from your record. Like many legal questions, the answer is: “It depends!” Expungement is the legal process of removing a conviction from your record, meaning it will no longer appear on most background checks. A conviction…

As we close out 2024, it’s a good time to reflect on the cases we handled, our successes, and the lessons we learned throughout the year. This year, our firm had the privilege of representing hundreds of clients facing serious criminal charges, and we were able to achieve outcomes that changed lives. Here are some…

As Santa makes his way across the world, even he might have a run-in with the law. Here are three Mississippi crimes Santa could hypothetically be arrested for tonight—and how we, as his trusted criminal defense attorneys, would defend the Big Guy in Red! Trespassing or Burglary? If Santa finds his way into your home,…