Phoenix DUI Law Blog

The Uphill Battle of Criminal Appeals in Arizona
James Novak

Facing criminal charges can be an arduous journey, and the prospect of a successful appeal post-conviction can be even more challenging. In a recent Arizona case, the defendant appealed his convictions for aggravated assault and related charges. This blog post explores the difficulties encountered in pursuing a criminal appeal after a conviction. According to the…

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Arizona Defendant Argues Body Camera Footage Inadmissible at Trial, but Court of Appeals Disagrees
James Novak

In a recent case before a court of appeals in Arizona, the defendant took issue with evidence that the lower court admitted during his trial. Originally, the defendant was charged with aggravated domestic violence. His case went to trial, a jury found him guilty, and the defendant appealed, arguing that one of the police officer’s…

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State of Arizona Appeals Lower Court’s Suppression Order in Case that Highlights Issues with Officer’s Prolonged Traffic Stop
James Novak

In a recent case before an Arizona court of appeals, the State challenged the lower court’s decision to suppress evidence of drugs that an officer found in a defendant’s vehicle. An officer originally pulled the defendant over for a traffic violation, and after a prolonged stop, the officer found drugs in the defendant’s vehicle. When…

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Arizona Defendant in Aggravated Assault Case Challenges Guilty Conviction Based on Officer’s Muted Body Camera
James Novak

In a September 2023 case before an Arizona court of appeals, the defendant appealed a jury’s finding that he was guilty of aggravated assault. The defendant was first charged after a security guard saw him attack a man on the sidewalk. The defendant pled not guilty, and he also filed a motion to dismiss, arguing…

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Arizona Defendant Loses Appeal in Attempted Murder Case, Despite Court’s Extensive Review of Record
James Novak

Recently, an Arizona court of appeals sided with the State in an appeal revolving around a defendant’s conviction for attempted murder. The defendant was first charged after an incident in which he grabbed hold of a woman, assaulted her, and attempted to kill her. His case went to trial, and the jury found him guilty.…

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Arizona Defendant Unsuccessfully Appeals Aggravated Assault Conviction, Despite Self-Defense Argument
James Novak

Recently, a court of appeals in an Arizona criminal case affirmed the defendant’s conviction for aggravated assault. The defendant was first charged after an altercation between himself and a man standing at a bus top – the incident became violent, and the defendant shot the man once in the stomach. A jury found the defendant…

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Arizona Defendant Appeals Rape Conviction on Grounds that Confession was Involuntary
James Novak

Recently, an Arizona court of appeals had to decide whether to grant a defendant’s request to overturn his convictions and sentences for sexual assault, kidnapping, and sexual abuse. Originally, the defendant was charged after he dragged a coworker to a warehouse and raped her; his case went to trial, and he was found guilty. On…

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Arizona Court Agrees with Defendant in Aggravated Assault Case, Protecting the Right to Remain Silent During Interrogation
James Novak

An Arizona appellate court’s July 2023 decision in an assault case highlights the importance of safeguarding the defendant’s right to remain silent during interrogation. In this case, the defendant was convicted of aggravated assault and endangerment. A police officer interrogated the defendant, and he declined to answer several of her questions. Later, after a jury…

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Recent Entries

The Importance of Handwriting in an Arizona Criminal Case A person’s handwriting can come back to haunt them, and evidence in the trial court’s record of the defendant’s handwriting can end up helping the...

When Can an Officer Reasonably Prolong a Traffic Stop in Arizona? In Arizona, an officer that sees an individual commit a traffic violation can reasonably initiate a traffic stop. The traffic stop must only last the...

What Are the Differences Between DUI, Extreme DUI, and Aggravated DUI in Arizona? In Arizona, as in every state, there are consequences for driving under the influence (DUI). What many people don’t know, however, is that there are...

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About James E. Novak

James E. Novak participates in several legal organizations including The Arizona Attorneys For Criminal Justice, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, and others.

Client Reviews

 I was facing criminal charges with three priors in my history. Mr Novak was very helpful and got me a lighter sentence than I probably deserved. He is a great attorney and I would highly recommend him.

- A.T.

James worked tirelessly behind the scenes with the prosecution, to decrease my son’s charges to a more reasonable penalty. I could not have asked for a better, more professional attorney. He treated my son with the utmost respect and walked him through every step of a very difficult situation.

- S. G.

Attorney Novak did an outstanding job defending my son. Due to his extensive professional background within the court system, he was successfully able to defend my son during a very difficult time for my family. I highly recommend Attorney James Novak for your legal needs.

- T. G.

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