Assault Charges in New York: Misdemeanor or Felony?

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Assault is one of the most common charges in the criminal legal system in New York. Yet many don’t understand why its charged sometimes as a misdemeanor, and sometimes as a...

The “Gay Panic” Defense: Outlawed In New York

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. In the summer of 2019, New York became one of several states to ban “gay panic” defenses in homicide cases. Now, defendants cannot defend against a murder charge by claimin...

Police Encounters: What to Do When Stopped by Police

By Jill K. Sanders, Esq. Police officers routinely stop people and ask them questions. This is part of their job to help keep our communities safe. It can be tense for the officer, as he or she doe...