The term "Twinkie defense" is an umbrella term that, in the most general sense, refers to an unconventional defensive argument. The term originated from the 1979 trial of Dan White, a San Francisco politician, who was charged with first-...
criminal law
under the influence
The phrase “under the influence” refers to impairment, to any degree, of an individual’s ability to safely perform the activity in question as a result of the use of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both.
If a person is...
United States Attorney’s Office (USAO)
The United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) is a subagency of the Department of Justice charged with representing the federal government in court. The U.S. Attorney General directs the USAO. Each federal district has their own office led by a...
unlawful
General description for conduct that is illegal or not authorized by law.
The term is sometimes used in a more narrow sense. For instance, "unlawful" may refer only to conduct that is criminally punishable. At other times, "unlawful" may...
unlawful assembly
An unlawful assembly is the meeting together of three or more persons with the intent to disturb the public peace.
To constitute this offense, it must appear that there was common intent of the persons assembled to attain...
unreasonable
The term “unreasonable” refers to any action or result that exceeds a reasonable expectation, or refers to anything beyond what would be considered “common sense.” In criminal cases, the prosecutor should explain the evidence so clearly that...
uttering
Under common law, uttering is when a person offers as genuine a forged instrument with the intent to defraud.
vague
Vague means hazy, uncertain, or imprecise. Used in reference to words — especially sentences and paragraphs — that are not clearly expressed. A criminal statute is void for vagueness if it is so vague that it fails to give a person fair notice of what...
Vega v. Tekoh (2022)
Vega v. Tekoh (2022) is the Supreme Court case that ruled a Miranda Rights violation does not provide a basis for relief under 42 U.S. Code § 1983.
Overview:The case involved the interrogation of Terence Tekoh by the...
vehicular homicide
A crime in which the defendant's unlawful or negligent operation of a motor vehicle results in the death of another person. Also called automobile homicide and vehicular manslaughter. Such laws vary by jurisdiction, but vehicular homicide is...