Case Results

Dismissal of one and a continuance for dismissal on the other. Both cases were dated, but both had warrants from missed court appearances. The North Star team used the clients impressive resume since these incidents - including service in the Army - to approach the prosecutors about not only removing the warrants, but also to resolve the cases. One prosecutor understood that the appropriate and just result - given the age of the offense and accomplishments of the client - warranted an outright dismissal. The other agreed to an outcome that is admittedly a significant departure from that jurisdictions typical approach on this type of case. The dismissals allows the client to continue with both his civilian and military careers without these being a burden, which was a major concern for him at the time he approached North Star.

CLIENT RELEASED, some fifty (50) months early. This client, who was represented by another firm when he entered a plea of guilty to First Degree Drug charges hoping for a sentencing departure to probation, was instead immediately remanded to state prison for a lengthy term. His health, already radically declining on the day he was sentenced, immediately disqualified him from any programming (such as the Challenge Incarceration Program, or 'Boot Camp') that would have ended his prison stay quickly or at any discount. The client hired North Star to be creative in challenging his sentence and to secure his release in any way humanly possible... and we DID JUST THAT, by way of an order recently permitting him to leave prison immediately. Mr. Adkins and his team used the habeas corpus petition process to get the Court's attention, and convinced the Court and the Department of Corrections' legal team that a release would not only be justified, but would save our client's very life. Compassionate release in the middle of this pandemic is logical, it is wise, and it is increasingly difficult to secure, as political implications infect hearings and conversations about true justice in the face of a deadly invisible enemy. If your loved one is serving a prison sentence, anywhere, and you believe their health is threatened (particularly if they suffer from a preexisting deadly condition or are likely to develop severe reactions to the coronavirus), please contact the team at North Star immediately. There are few lawyers on the planet who have successfully litigated these issues, and Dan and James would love to win for you, and yours.

Case DISMISSED. Client was facing a serious domestic-related charge for pocket-dialing his ex-wife who had obtained an order for protection against him. Complicating things is the fact that the pocket-dialing occurred when the client was at a gun range. Certainly, the prospect of potential intimidation for the protected party was a primary concern of the State. Nonetheless, the North Star team utilized the progress and closing of the family law matter to the client's benefit in negotiating and convincing the prosecutor that dismissing the case was the proper and just result. Needless to say, client is overjoyed to avoid a criminal record from a truly innocent mistake.

CARRY PERMIT DELIVERED, directly in the U.S. Mail! In this matter, a client with as many as four (4) prior felony convictions from another state visited the North Star team, and asked if those cases (which were resolved in a number of unique ways, including a Veteran's Court and Drug Treatment Court in that far away jurisdiction) could be characterized in a way that would permit him to recover his right to self-defense, and a permit to purchase a firearm, and (eventually) a firearms carry permit. Client closely followed Mr. Adkins' directives, seeking clarification directly from the Sheriff's Department on the basis for his initial rejection for a permit to purchase; then Mr. Adkins investigated the matter in the other state with help of investigators and Client's legal team out west, before demand letters to the Sheriff's office resulted in a jackpot. Client did not simply recover the right to purchase and possess a firearm, at his home or place of business... the letter indicating his win included a laminated conceal/carry permit, for which he had previously applied/completed safety training/been summarily denied! Client was amazed, as he had been led to believe he'd have to restart the entire process over, and pass each and every careful step after getting the Sheriff's Department or a reviewing judge to agree regarding the impact of his record of conviction. It did not hurt his cause when Mr. Adkins notified the Sheriff's Department that Client would be entitled to recover all of his reasonable attorney's fees, in the event the County continued to mischaracterize his prior record and a Court ruled that a permit should have been issued. Careful creative negotiations, assertive and thoughtful investigative techniques, and a kickass demand letter have resulted in outright, rare and wonderful justice for this client.

Declination/Nolle Prosequi Letter pending (no charges!). This client, a young man accused of sexual misconduct at his high school, was initially set to meet with investigators to (hopefully!) explain some miscommunication and contextualize a relationship. After a call to North Star, hoping to confirm the good intentions of the investigators and to be told he had the right strategy in mind, that meeting was immediately cancelled, and the client declined to respond to any officers' questions. The complete absence of physical or social-media evidence to confirm the (false, but compelling) allegations of the classmate has resulted in no charges being filed. This is still a developing matter, in light of the fact that the statute of limitations won't expire for many years yet, but the first steps are utterly wonderful. North Star provides exceptional and timely pre-charge representation several times each month, and we love these no-charge decisions as much as a jury acquittal.

Plea to an amended count of Careless Driving. Client blew a .12 and had no defense. Typically, this means a plea to a misdemeanor DWI with STS - community work service through probation that is strenuous work. But, with the North Star team, the typical result is not good enough and they pushed for the atypical and incredible result of a plea to an amended count of Careless Driving. On top of that, the client is on probation to the court and does not need to do community work service through the County. For a young woman with a bright future, she could not be happier that she decided to hire North Star to fight for her.

Stay of Adjudication, notwithstanding extensive prohibitive conviction history. Dan and his client took advantage of positive turns from the bench and from a formerly very-displeased prosecutor, and resolved a sticky case with no formal conviction and easy terms of conditional release. Client anticipates this jump-off helping to put him back to rights on his driving privileges, as well as other life challenges. Very positive development, this.

Expungement granted for misdemeanor DWI. Typically, expunging DWI's have proven to be the most difficult non-felony records to get expunged. And that is especially true for those offenses that are within the 10-year look-back period for possible enhancement. Despite these obstacles, the North Star team successfully expunged a 4-year-old DWI record - and did so during the COVID-19 pandemic. North Star's proven approach with expungements - which includes a process unmatched by other firms - leads to these incredible results for deserving clients.