The Smith & White Blog

The crime of assault is a far more complex charge than many realize. You may be charged with varying degrees of assault based on the circumstances. Assault in the second and third degree are common charges, but very different. Assault 2 and 3 charges differ significantly in the level of intent required for the crime, […]

Domestic violence charges may carry extremely harsh penalties. Some people may be charged even though the supposed victim was the initial aggressor. If you were defending yourself, an attorney can help you develop a strong defense in court. Many cases involve physical and even sexual abuse from a spouse or partner. In some cases, defendants […]

Being arrested for driving under the influence may have more immediate effects on your life than you anticipated. You might even temporarily lose your license before going to court to face DUI charges in Washington, unless you act quickly enough to schedule a hearing with the Department of Licensing (DOL), and that hearing goes in […]

Domestic violence charges can be intimidating and humiliating, but your situation may be even more precarious if your professional license is on the line. Many professional licenses come with a certain code of conduct. When a license holder is criminally charged, their license may be in jeopardy. If you have a professional license, it is […]

There is no central state registry for firearms in Washington State, so all guns are effectively “unregistered.” However, you may be in trouble if your gun is untraceable, and the state has no information connecting you to the firearm. If the police find such a firearm in your car, you should call a lawyer for […]

When a person is convicted of a felony in Washington State, they may lose their right to own, possess, or carry a firearm. This condition is permanent unless your rights are later restored. While restoration is possible for some, it is not an easy process, and you should consult a lawyer. To restore your gun […]

The laws surrounding firearms are complicated even at the best of times. If you are charged for allegedly having a stolen firearm in your possession, you should call a lawyer for help immediately. You do not have to steal a firearm to be charged with the possession of a stolen firearm. Purchasing or otherwise obtaining […]

If you’re stopped by police in Washington, you might assume they can’t search you without a warrant. But that’s not always true. Under certain circumstances, officers can legally frisk you—even if you haven’t done anything obviously wrong. What a Tacoma Gun Case Reveals A recent appellate decision, State v. Graham, shows just how quickly these […]

In Tacoma, WA assault cases, a broken bone can be enough to support a felony charge because a fracture usually qualifies as substantial bodily harm under state law. But that does not end the analysis. Prosecutors still must prove that the accused caused the injury, and that is often where the real fight happens. In […]

Most people dealing with a civil protection order are either trying to get protection quickly or trying to make sense of papers they did not expect. A civil protection order is a civil court order, not a criminal no-contact order. In Washington, civil protection orders are now handled under chapter 7.105 RCW, but local Pierce […]