For the fourth time since joining GRL Law in 2018, Colin Murphy was again named to the Great Plains Super Lawyers list in 2021, an honor reserved for those lawyers who exhibit excellence in practice. Only 5 percent of attorneys in the region receive this distinction.
In State v. Wright, the Iowa Supreme Court recently banned warrantless searches of curbside trash. This landmark ruling puts an end to an investigative technique used by police for decades. The issues before the Iowa Supreme Court were matters of first impression. The drug defense attorneys at GRL Law are the first to ever raise the issue of trespass onto a constitutionally-protected “effect” in Iowa. We are also the first to persuade an Iowa appellate court to find an expectation of privacy in uncollected garbage. Prior to Wright, police wantonly searched household garbage set out for collection. This was often […]
The CDL defense attorneys at GRL Law score another win for a client after charges were dismissed. Our driver was charged with false report of record of duty status. The firm noted three possible defenses. One in particular concerns how the complaint was verified. I thought it would be a winner under these facts. However, I didn’t even get a chance to raise it at trial. The trooper was en route, but 30 minutes late, when the prosecutor moved to dismiss at the State’s cost. That never happens! I met the trooper on the sidewalk outside the courthouse minutes later. […]
GRL Law maintains a well earned reputation from both the bench and bar across the state for its approach to defending those charged with serious crimes. It should come as no surprise that our clients share the same opinion. The firm’s criminal law division is comprised of five experienced trial and appellate lawyers. Collectively, they have more than 200 five-star reviews on Avvo.com. Two hundred. Actual and organic testimonials that describe the client experience with GRL Law. When facing serious criminal charges, the most important decision you will make is the lawyer who will protect your rights. If you or […]
There was a time when the impaired driving defense lawyers at GRL Law only encountered search warrants for blood in felony OWI cases. Especially those involving serious injuries. Those were the days. The police no longer reserve search warrants for just serious injury accidents. Now, it seems they pursue blood warrants for all types of cases. Refuse a preliminary breath test with a prior OWI conviction on your record? Transported to the hospital where breath testing is not available? What about the odor of marijuana or the discovery of medication not prescribed to you? It’s common practice today for the […]
Another result of our relentless pretrial discovery efforts is now on display in Jasper County. After painstakingly reviewing every word of the implied consent video, we discovered that our client asked for an attorney. The officer did not honor this request, but instead requested a breath sample for testing on the DataMaster DMT. Our client refused. Iowa law provides a limited right to consult with a lawyer while being detained by police. The prosecutor amended the OWI because the breath test refusal would not be admissible due to the violation. The result? A simple misdemeanor. No jail. A fine of […]
When it comes to possession charges for out-of-state medical marijuana, you should look no further than GRL Law. Many prosecutors will charge these possession offenses under Iowa Code section 124.401(5). This effectively treats medical marijuana like a street drug rather than a therapeutic purchased at a licensed dispensary. Most attorneys who dabble in criminal defense accept this framing and go to work negotiating a mandatory minimum plea or deferred judgment. Not GRL Law. We won’t rest without fighting to get the charges dismissed. How do you choose the right attorney for this specialized possession charge in Iowa? Just ask them […]
To the impaired driving defense attorneys at GRL Law, the name of the game is relentless pretrial discovery. It’s what we do. Essentially, if there’s a defense, then we’ll find it and leverage it to produce uncommon results. A recent OWI Second Offense charge in western Iowa provides a perfect example of this approach. After exhaustively reviewing 911 calls, dispatch logs, the dash camera and body camera videos and cross-examining the officer at the DOT hearing (yes, we vigorously defend DOT revocations at hearing), we discovered: The basis for the stop, a “verbal domestic,” was questionable; The officer had no […]
Frequent readers of the GRL Law blog are familiar with the term “NFG.” We also explain it in detail here. A NFG can occur at trial. Or, like this case, on appeal. At the close of the state’s case at trial, the criminal defense attorneys at GRL Law moved to dismiss the speeding charge. Why? The trooper testified on cross-examination that he was not sworn before a notary at the time he signed the complaint before filing it with the magistrate. The Iowa Constitution requires a sworn verification. The magistrate refused to grant the judgment of acquittal for our client […]
Sometimes police are way too aggressive in their attempts to ferret out crime. When that occurs, the criminal defense attorneys at GRL Law are often called to secure justice for the accused. A perfect example of this happened recently in Ankeny. Our client was simply walking on a sidewalk when the police approached in a patrol car. Small talk soon led to a request for field sobriety and breath testing, both of which were politely refused. When the officer announced he was making an arrest, our client offered a breath test. The result? 0.019 percent alcohol. Maybe a beer’s worth. […]
