Insights from Two Decades as a Criminal Defense Attorney
In Evidence 101, I will cover relevance and character evidence. We'll start with specific problems related to the two types of relevance: logical relevance and discretionary or policy-based relevance. From there, we'll delve into character evidence and explore the differences between character evidence in civil cases and character evidence in criminal cases. We'll walk step by step through the rules, and I will provide you with some basic examples to illustrate the rules so that you can develop a practical, working knowledge of each.
Evidentiary issues are questions of law. By ruling on motions and objections, the judge determines what evidence may be presented to and considered by the jury. Judges apply the rules of evidence to determine whether to admit or exclude physical evidence, oral testimony, and exhibits. Once admitted, the jury decides how much weight to afford the evidence. The rules of evidence permit only that which is deemed relevant and trustworthy to be received by the jury.Â
This presentation will provide you with a comprehensive review of the rules of evidence that come up most frequently. With memorable hypotheticals to trigger fast recall, you'll be able to think fast on your feet and use the rules to your advantage, both before and during the trial.
Trial, entertainment law and U.S. international tax law
Michael is a partner in the boutique law firm of DeBlis Law where he specializes in tax compliance and entertainment law. Michael graduated from Western Michigan University School of Law in 2007 and later went on to earn his Masters of Law in taxation (LL.M.) from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2012. As a former public defender, Michael has spent nearly eight years cutting his teeth on some of the most serious felony cases to pass through the state courts of New Jersey. Michael’s unique background in tax law puts him into an elite category of criminal defense attorneys who specialize in criminal tax defense. His extensive trial experience and solid grounding in all major areas of federal taxation make him uniquely qualified to handle any white-collar case, no matter how sophisticated it might be. Michael is known for his creativity, his charismatic personality, and his unyielding dedication to his clients. As a graduate of the National Criminal Defense College, Michael has trained under some of the best known criminal defense attorneys in the country. That experience has taught him that justice for a person accused of a crime is only won through a full understanding of the client and the case. To that end, Michael attempts to understand each client’s case as a convincing narrative, not just as a set of innocuous facts and arcane legal rules. When he's not in the courtroom, you can find Michael on stage. As a professionally trained actor, Michael's passionate about helping trial lawyers harness the power of persuasion and positive communication in the courtroom in order to connect to the jury on a human level. Michael's training as an actor allows him to combine a unique blend of left-brain thinking with right brain artistry to make even the most dull and abstract areas of the law come to life. This burst of creativity has contributed to Michael's success as a distinguished author and sought-out speaker. Michael has written articles that have been published in leading tax journals, such as "CCH Journal of Tax Practice and Procedure," "EA Journal," "Global Tax Weekly," and "ABA News Quarterly" and is a columnist for "Law360." He has been featured on the media affiliates of several major media networks, including NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, and CNN. Michael is a living example of the tremendous power that comes from combining passion, preparation, persuasion, and positive communication in the courtroom. His courage and relentless work ethic have earned him a reputation as a zealous advocate and one of New Jersey's rising stars of the legal profession.
