Expunging, Vacating or Removing Misdemeanors or Gross Misdemeanors

Expunging, Vacating or Removing a Misdemeanor Conviction. A Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer | Attorney’s Perspective. Vacating (the proper legal term for the process) a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor criminal conviction is a fairly simple process if you qualify. We consider this process mostly procedural in all cases but in convictions for Domestic Violence.  Depending on…

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Criminal Convictions and Job Applications

Criminal Convictions and Job Applications for Employment. A Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer | Attorney’s Prospective. As criminal defense attorneys | lawyers, we have discussed job applications and employment more times than we can count.  For those presently employed, the answer often depends on whom you work for and what the conviction was for. If you…

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Immigration Issues and Criminal Convictions

Immigration Issues and Criminal Convictions. A Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer | Attorney’s Prospective. United States is a country founded on immigration and this truth is reflected in our irrationality around immigration: even in 2014, issues surrounding criminal law and detention pending the outcome of a case are in a constant state of flux. As criminal…

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Guns, Ammunition and the Lautenberg Amendment: Federal Consequences of a Domestic Violence Conviction

The Lautenberg Amendment, Guns and Ammunition: The Federal Consequences of a Criminal Conviction. A Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer | Attorney’s Perspective. A criminal conviction for almost all domestic violence crimes in Washington will result in the permanent loss of your federal right to possess a firearm or ammunition because of the Lautenberg Amendment, the short…

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Gun Rights and Convictions

Gun Rights: The Consequences of Conviction. A Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer | Attorney’s Perspective. The short answer. One automatically loses the right to possess a gun for any Washington felony conviction and any misdemeanor | gross misdemeanor domestic violence conviction that involves dangerous behavior directed at another person.   The only exception to automatic loss of the right…

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Drugs and the School Zone Enhancement

School Zone Enhancement: Consequences of Conviction. A Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer | Attorney’s Prospective. Drug-Related Enhancements Certain felony drug offenses are subject to additional prison time when the offense takes place in a protected zone. One of these zones is a school zone. This additional time, which is automatically added to the underlying sentence, is…

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Deadly Weapons Enhancements

The Deadly Weapon Enhancement: Consequences of Conviction. A Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer | Attorney’s Perspective. As criminal defense attorneys | lawyers, we are acutely aware that in general, there is nothing inherently illegal with possessing or using a weapon.  However, problems surface when it is a prohibited weapons, or, a person is accused of using…

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Firearm Enhancements

Firearm Enhancements: Consequences of Conviction. A Washington Criminal Defense Lawyer | Attorney’s Perspective. Under Washington law, defendants convicted of certain felonies while “armed with a firearm” will receive a firearm enhancement in addition to the “standard” sentence of their crime. How much time do you get for using a Firearm in the Commission of a…

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