Tag: criminal defense

Murphy Presents at 2024 ISBA Seminar

On September 12, 2024 Colin Murphy presented at the annual Iowa State Bar Association’s Bridge the Gap Seminar in Des Moines. The presentation focused on recurring issues in drugged driving cases.  In particular, Colin demonstrated how defense attorneys can defend against OWI-drug charges involving marijuana. The drug defense attorneys at GRL Law frequently speak at these events to educate both the bench and bar on emerging legal issues.    

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NFG Domestic Abuse Assault With a Firearm

Winterset, Madison County, Iowa. What may be the most ridiculous and worst investigated Domestic Abuse Assault case that GRL Law ever defended, went to trial and the jury acquitted GRL’s client in under a half-hour of deliberation.  The accusation was that GRL’s client fired four shots while standing on a hill in the woods, along a gravel road in Madison County, when he did not know that his ex-wife had arrived unexpectedly at the property.  The ex-wife claimed that shots were fired to scare her even though the perfectly in-focus pictures that she took proved that GRL’s client had his […]

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Story County Prosecutor Sanctioned for Misconduct

Nevada, Story County, Iowa.  Don’t nip at The Wolf.  He bites back! An Assistant Story County Attorney attempted to prosecute a meritless operating while intoxicated case against GRL’s client.  As usual, GRL gave the prosecutor the opportunity to do the right thing but he could not “let the bear go.”  When the prosecutor finally saw the writing on the wall and agreed to dismiss the case, he had already dug himself a hole that placed himself firmly in hot water.  Amazingly, when called to task on his dirty deeds, the prosecutor could not drop the brush, and continued to paint […]

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Are Iowa’s Current Gun Laws Constitutional?

Iowa law set out in Iowa Code section 724.8B makes it a separate and distinct criminal offense to possess a firearm while committing an “indictable offense.”  An “indictable offense” in Iowa includes all offenses that are categorized as serious misdemeanors, aggravated misdemeanors or felonies.  They include offenses such as theft, driving while suspended, possession of marijuana, operating while intoxicated and other misdemeanors which are completely unconnected to violence or use of a firearm. Charges under section 724.8B are being filed by law enforcement regardless of whether the individual has a valid permit to carry a concealed weapon or is carrying […]

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THANK YOU

Thank you! I want to thank Sydney Ross for the way she handled my case. It was difficult and required an extensive amount of research. Even though the odds were stacked against her in court, she represented me well. She shared my case with other attorneys in the practice who all supported her. All of the office staff were helpful and courteous. Sydney really cared and I appreciate her. Posted by Rick | January 28, 2024. This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

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Well Worth the Money

I hired Robert from GRL to represent me at the suggestion from a co-worker who had used GRL before. Robert represented me for an OWI charge. From my first conversation with him Robert was open and easy to talk to. I explained my situation and he was confident he could help me. Robert, Madisyn and the whole team at GRL were helpful, pleasant and supportive thru the entire ordeal. Thru diligent work and attention to detail Robert managed to get the charge amended to public intoxication, with no suspension to my license or ill effect to my insurance. I will […]

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Drug Charges Dismissed Following Suppression Win

When it comes to warrantless searches, the drug crime attorneys at GRL Law really know their stuff. A recent example from North Iowa shows just how they leverage their knowledge to secure a dismissal by shining a bright light on illegal police conduct. Our client was the passenger in a vehicle that was parked one minute past the deadline in a city park.  Rather than simply wave on the driver, police decided to engage the occupants instead and request identification. When the driver rolled down the window, the officer smelled marijuana. Now, the driver owned up to a vape pen […]

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Persons Seeking Medical Assistance for Drug-Related Overdose

Iowa law provides a legal defense for individuals who seek, obtain, or otherwise summon the assistance of law enforcement and emergency medical personnel in instances of suspected drug overdose.  With the plague of fentanyl overdoses being experienced through the state and nation, this is an appropriate measure to ensure that victims can secure desperately needed medical assistance at the earliest opportunity without fear of arrest or prosecution. Iowa Code section 124.418 was enacted in 2018.  This law categorizes any information or evidence collected or derived as a result of an overdose patient’s good-faith actions in seeking medical assistance, as “protected […]

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Iowa’s Overdose Protection Law Results in Dismissal

Waukee, Dallas County, Iowa.  Iowa’s overdose protection law was utilized to secure a dismissal of Possession and drug Paraphernalia charges for a client of GRL Law.  What was very nearly a tragedy, ultimately had a happy ending.  GRL Law’s client unknowingly ingested Fentanyl when consuming another product and immediately began suffering overdose symptoms.  Thankfully friends immediately summoned emergency assistance to assist.  Medical treatment was provided but, apparently unaware that no evidence obtained from emergency responses to these calls may be used to charge an individual, law enforcement charged GRL’s client with possession of a controlled substances.  Thankfully GRL’s client made […]

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