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For criminal defendants, the right to a jury trial is found in the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This right and the others enshrined in the Constitution are intended to keep the country from instituting an oppressive government.
Arizona has a similar right to a trial by jury found in Ariz. Const. Art. VI § 17. The right to a jury trial in criminal cases is recognized in felony cases in Arizona.
DUI charges in Arizona can result in harsh penalties when people are convicted, depending on their blood alcohol concentrations at the time of their arrests and their driving records.
Arizona has a seven-year lookback period for DUIs, which means that the state will charge you with a second-offense DUI if you have a prior DUI conviction within the last seven years.
Some people who are charged with DUIs might wonder how other types of traffic violations might affect their DUI penalties.
But when alcohol, rivalry, and emotions combine, tempers can flare. A heated argument over a call on the field or a team rivalry can quickly turn physical. In a matter of seconds, what started as shouting can lead to someone getting hurt and the police making an arrest. Suddenly, you may find yourself charged with aggravated assault under Arizona law.
Under Arizona Revised Statutes, a person commits obstructing governmental operations when they knowingly obstruct, impair, or hinder the performance of a governmental function by a public servant acting under color of his official authority. This often involves situations where someone is accused of getting in the way of law enforcement or interfering with enforcement of the penal law or the preservation of the peace.
A heated argument, a misunderstanding, or an attempt to stop someone from leaving can sometimes escalate into serious criminal accusations. Under Arizona law, restricting another person’s movement may lead to charges such as unlawful imprisonment or kidnapping. Many people are surprised to learn that even brief restraint during a confrontation can be treated as a criminal offense depending on the circumstances.
Firearm laws in Arizona often surprise people who assume gun ownership rules are simple or uniform. While Arizona is known for broad gun rights, state law places strict limits on who may carry a firearm and under what circumstances. Many people facing gun charges never expected their situation to result in criminal charges, especially when the issue involves a past conviction, a court order, or a misunderstanding about firearm possession.