Mississippi Criminal Defense Blog

If you’ve ever been arrested or watched a legal show, you’ve probably heard the line: “You have the right to remain silent…” But what happens when the police don’t say that? Does it mean your case gets thrown out? Not necessarily. As a criminal defense law firm, we hear it all the time: “they never…

If you’ve been charged with a drug crime in Mississippi, you may be wondering if there’s any way to beat the case. At McCormick Lawrence, PLLC, we defend clients every day who are facing charges like drug possession, drug trafficking, or possession with intent to distribute. The good news: there are many ways to fight…

If you’ve been charged with a felony crime, one of the first steps in the Mississippi criminal court process is your arraignment. Many people are unsure what an arraignment is or why it’s important. At McCormick Lawrence, PLLC, we guide our clients through the arraignment process on a daily basis. What is an Arraignment? An…

If you’ve been arrested and charged with a crime in Mississippi for the first time, you’re likely confused, scared, and unsure of what to do next. Whether it’s a misdemeanor like DUI, domestic violence, or simple assault, or a non-violent felony such as drug possession or property theft, the choices you make early on can…

If you’ve never hired a criminal defense lawyer before, it’s normal to feel nervous. You may have just been arrested, received a court date, learned that you’re under investigation, or found out that a warrant has been issued for your arrest. At McCormick Lawrence, we understand that calling a lawyer can be stressful. Our goal…

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…