Blog

COVID-19 And Your Texas Criminal Case, Part 1

• By Phillip Goff
• 1 Aug 2020
• 0

Simply put, the most likely effect of COVID-19 on your criminal case will be delay.  Whether your case began before or during the pandemic, this blog entry applies to you.  If your case was pending, it probably was already delayed.   Law Enforcement Generally, the pandemic has slowed the pace of arrests and even the […]

Should I Talk to the Police? In a word, No.

• By Phillip Goff
• 6 Jul 2020
• 0

We frequently receive calls from people who tell us the police want to talk to them. They want to know whether it’s ever a good idea, even if on the surface it seems like all they want to do is ask a few innocent questions. No. Don’t do it. STOP.  Re-read the last two lines. […]

COVID-19 Is No Justification

• By Phillip Goff
• 5 May 2020
• 0

Our Freedoms are Constantly Under Siege We take freedom for granted.  Some freedoms afforded to those people accused of crimes are downright unpopular. Attempts to restrict or eliminate the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens are routine. Regrettably, many government officials don’t truly believe in the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, are actively hostile to those […]

Coronavirus Exposing Legal System Shortcomings

• By Phillip Goff
• 20 Apr 2020
• 0

In my more than 25 years of practice, I’ve seen nothing comparable to the effect of COVID-19 on the operation of the legal system.  The response of people throughout the system has been both encouraging and disappointing. We Were Not Adequately Prepared It’s changing day by day, and, I hate to say it, but the […]

Texas Ticket Warrant Roundup & “Amnesty” – Part Two

• By Phillip Goff
• 28 Mar 2020
• 0

I hope that after reading my previous blog in this two-part series you are no longer afraid of the Texas Traffic Warrant Amnesty roundup. Let’s calmly consider what your next steps are. Attorney Or Not? Of course, you can hire an attorney like me, and I typically can get warrants lifted to entirely eliminate the […]

Texas Ticket Warrant Roundup & “Amnesty” – Part One

• By Phillip Goff
• 6 Mar 2020
• 0

FIRST, DO NOT PANIC Did you hear about the “roundup” of people with traffic ticket warrants?  Are you worried about getting arrested for your outstanding traffic ticket?  Were you personally threated with arrest?  Are you eager to take them up on their so-called “amnesty”? Stop and think before doing anything about it out of fear.  […]

LEGAL ADVICE FROM A SPRING BREAK LAWYER

• By Phillip Goff
• 31 Jan 2020
• 0

Spring Break is almost upon us.  South Texas beaches will be partying with hundreds of thousands of people at a time.  Alcohol is every bit as much a part of Spring Break as South Padre Island and Port Aransas.  (Yeah, I know, I know, so is weed.). Cameron County and Nueces County file hundreds of […]

Four Dumb Things People Do To Hurt Their Cases

• By Phillip Goff
• 16 Jan 2020
• 0

Perhaps dumb is too harsh.  You don’t have to be dumb to do dumb things.  Avoiding unnecessary harm is often easily avoidable.  Try not to do the dumb things for your own sake (and your dependents’). Most people don’t think about being suspected of committing a crime. Most of my DWI clients certainly didn’t think […]

“Free Consultation” – It May Not Be What You Think It Is

• By Phillip Goff
• 4 Dec 2019
• 0

Most criminal defense lawyers offer a “free consultation”. That term doesn’t have a strict definition, and its meaning may vary dramatically from lawyer to lawyer. It may not be what you think it is.  This is my take on the topic. What may be free to one lawyer is 5 minutes, but another lawyer may […]

Lawyering Isn’t For The Faint of Heart

• By Phillip Goff
• 27 Nov 2019
• 0

Being a lawyer can be tougher than you might believe.  Popular culture and belief associate lawyers with importance, power, and money, among other glamorous attributes.  Reality is much more grounded. As lawyers, our mental and emotional well-being are at extreme risk.  We abuse alcohol and drugs far more than other people.  Our suicide rate far […]