The Medlin Law Firm - Gary Medlin
DWI Dismissed But License Still Suspended In Fort Worth?
Key takeaways: A DWI dismissal does not automatically cancel a Texas Administrative License Revocation suspension because the criminal charge and the driver’s license proceeding are separate cases. You can win or obtain a dismissal in criminal court and still lose driving privileges through ALR. A refusal or failed breath or blood test can trigger its own suspension and hearing deadline. A not guilty verdict can have a different effect from a dismissal, so the exact criminal outcome, test status, prior history, and timing need to be reviewed. Getting a DWI dismissed can feel like the end of the case. Then, [...]
Can A No Bill Erase A Felony Arrest In Fort Worth?
Key Takeaways: A Texas grand jury no bill can create a path toward clearing a felony arrest record, but it does not erase the arrest automatically. For a felony arrest where no indictment was presented, Chapter 55A may allow expunction after 3 years or sooner if the prosecutor provides the required certification. Related charges, prior proceedings, and the circumstances of the arrest can affect eligibility. Until a final expunction order takes effect, the arrest may remain visible in government records and background reports. A no bill can be an important development after a Fort Worth felony arrest. It means the grand [...]
ALR Hearing Vs DWI Case In Texas: Know Both Tracks
Key Takeaways: An ALR hearing and a Texas DWI case are separate proceedings that can arise from the same arrest. The ALR case concerns your driver’s license, while the criminal case determines whether the State can prove DWI and impose criminal penalties. A standard ALR hearing request is generally due within 15 days after notice is served, while certain later blood-test notices provide 20 days from the mailing date. Waiting for your criminal court date can cost you the opportunity to challenge the administrative suspension. Two Separate Legal Tracks; ALR Hearing Vs DWI Case In Texas A Fort Worth DWI [...]
Understanding Bond Conditions In Texas & How People Accidentally Violate Them
Being released on bond in Texas does not mean life goes back to normal. In many cases, it changes immediately. You may still be presumed innocent, but your daily routine can start to feel a lot like probation. You may have to report regularly, submit to drug or alcohol testing, avoid certain people, stay away from certain places, or limit where you travel. These bond conditions can be restrictive, expensive, and confusing. They can also create serious problems when a person violates them without meaning to. At The Medlin Law Firm, we regularly help people deal with bond [...]
What Happens At A Texas Magistrate Hearing?
Key takeaways: A Texas magistrate hearing is an early post-arrest proceeding where a magistrate explains the accusation, gives required warnings, addresses access to counsel, and handles bail when permitted by law. It generally must occur without unnecessary delay and no later than 48 hours after arrest. You normally are not there to argue guilt, present your full defense, or resolve the criminal case. Bond conditions imposed at this stage can control where you go, whom you contact, and what you must do after release. If you or a family member has just been arrested in Fort Worth, “magistrate hearing” may [...]
Do You Have To Talk If A Detective Calls You?
TL;DR: If a detective calls you in Dallas and wants to “ask a few questions,” that usually means a voluntary contact, not an order you must obey. The Fifth Amendment protects you from being compelled to incriminate yourself, and Miranda warnings are tied to custodial interrogation, not every phone call from police. Staying silent does not automatically create a warrant, but talking too early can hand detectives facts, timelines, and admissions they did not have before. Whether you are free to leave, already detained, or under arrest changes the rules fast. If a detective calls you and says they just [...]
State Jail Felony Vs 3rd Degree Felony In Texas
Summary: A state jail felony and a third degree felony are both felonies in Texas, but they do not carry the same punishment range or the same negotiation value. A straight state jail felony usually carries 180 days to 2 years in a state jail facility, while a third degree felony usually carries 2 to 10 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and both can include up to a $10,000 fine. Texas law also allows some state jail cases to be punished more lightly or enhanced more harshly, which is why you need to know the exact statute, [...]
Bond Conditions That Can Send You Back To Jail
Overview: Getting out of jail on bond does not mean you are free to live normally again. Texas courts can place strict release conditions on a bond, and violating them can lead to rearrest, a higher bond, or in some cases bond revocation. The biggest problems usually involve no contact orders, missed testing, travel without permission, missed court, or ignoring device and reporting rules. The exact conditions depend on the charge and the court, especially in DWI and family violence cases. If you were just released in Fort Worth, or you are helping a family member stay out after arrest, [...]
Felony Probation Vs Deferred Adjudication In Texas
Key points: Straight probation and deferred adjudication are not the same outcome in Texas, even though both involve supervision in the community. Straight probation follows a conviction, while deferred adjudication delays a finding of guilt and can end with a dismissal if completed successfully. That does not mean deferred adjudication disappears from your record, and it does not mean every felony is eligible for either option. The exact offense, the court, and the plea posture can change what is available before you ever decide whether to accept the deal. If you are facing a felony in Fort Worth, one of [...]
What Happens After You’re Arrested In Texas: Booking, Bond, & Release
If you or someone you care about has just been arrested in Texas, the first few hours can feel confusing, slow, and overwhelming. You may be trying to figure out where the person is, what happens next, when bond will be set, and how long release will take. Those questions matter, and the answers are not always simple. At The Medlin Law Firm, we help people across Dallas-Fort Worth understand what comes next after an arrest. The process usually moves through several stages: custody, booking, magistration or arraignment, bond, and then release. Each stage comes with delays, paperwork, [...]
