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Carr Wins Another "Not Guilty" Verdict
/ANOTHER NOT GUILTY! Client who was 16 years old at the time of the charge facing 25 years on an aggravated assault - working late into a Friday night a jury of 12 found this young man not guilty.
We at Carr Law Firm are proud to represent all people from all walks of life in state and federal courts in Mississippi. If you or a loved one have a pending criminal charge please consider giving us a call at 662-441-1529.
Carr Selected to Mississippi Access to Justice Committee
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Mississippi Bar President Robert L. Gibbs has selected Michael Carr to serve a 3 year term as a member of the Mississippi Access to Justice Standing Committee for 2021-2024. The Mississippi Access to Justice Committee works to promote the delivery of legal services to the people of Mississippi, particularly in rural and low income areas, and helps build awareness regarding the justice gap and implications for the legal profession as a whole.
MAJ assisted over 1,075 people with free legal services in 2019. Thanks in part to the combined efforts of the Committee, Mississippi has moved to 34th out of 52 jurisdictions on the Justice Index survey. Also due to the work of the Committee, Mississippi has risen to 14th in how the state assists self-represented litigants. MAJ and its members are committed to the principle that justice should be available to all persons - without regard to economic status.
Another Not Guilty in Tunica County
/Tunica County client was charged in Count I: Misdemeanor Domestic Violence and Count II: Felony Aggravated Domestic Violence. Client accused of beating and choking victim on two different occasions.
State was unable to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Evidence was simply not there.
After deliberating for approximately 22 minutes, the jury returned a verdict of NOT GUILTY on both counts.
Carr Law Firm aggressively represents clients accused of misdemeanor and felony crimes in state and federal courts across Mississippi. Call 662-441-1529 for a free consultation.
Carr Gains Second Victory in Two Weeks, Helps Young Man Get His Life Back After Accident
/ANOTHER DIRECTED VERDICT GRANTED - client was a 19 year old charged with aggravated assault with a firearm. Was facing 25 years.
On the night of the incident, client was sitting in a car. A person opened the door and asked for a ride, and client moved a gun off the seat to let him in. He accidentally put his finger on the trigger when he moved it, and it went off - shot the individual one time in the chest. Horrible injuries. Will likely be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
But - all parties came to law enforcement and explained that the shooting was an accident. My client. The witness. The victim himself.
Our District Attorney’s Office still chose to present it to the Grand Jury as if a crime had been committed - that my client “purposefully and willfully and knowingly” shot the victim.
At trial yesterday, all individuals testified it was an accident. The victim himself testified it was a mistake, and my client didn’t mean to.
It was the first time in 15 years of practice I’ve never cross examined a victim in a criminal case that wasn’t a child.
Court found there was not enough evidence for the case to even be considered by a jury, and it was dismissed.
It’s the 4th directed verdict of my career in now 56 jury trials. It’s the second in two weeks.
My client lived for two years under a charge of a violent felony gun crime. He had a very hard time getting a job. Couldn’t pass a background check. Has just been sitting and waiting for his day in court. That day finally came.
This case should never have been in a criminal charge. It should have been a civil matter where the auto insurance policy or the homeowner’s insurance policy may have provided coverage to give this poor injured young man who was shot some $$.
Our prosecutors have incredible power. Your district attorney chooses what cases to present to a Grand Jury. Please serve. Ask questions. Question authority. It is their job to filter the good cases from the bad. But it is your job too.
Courthouses are public places. These are your tax dollars at work. Serve on juries. Come watch a criminal trial.
Carr Wins Another, Helps Family Get On Back on Track
/DIRECTED VERDICT GRANTED. Husband and wife charged with grand larceny - alleged to have stolen more than $1000 of fixed assets from a rental home. Both parents are working. Have two small children. Have been living with these charges for two years. Facing a felony conviction and 5 years in prison each.
After the close of the State’s case, the State conceded it could not prove there was a felony amount of items removed, and the Defense proved through land records that the alleged victim didn’t even have title to the real property. All charges dismissed!
This case should have always been a civil matter, and we at Carr Law Firm strongly feel that the criminal justice system (and the county’s tax dollars) was improperly used to punish a family in what was a simple landlord/tenant dispute. These two people should never have been criminally charged. The case never should have been sent to a grand jury - particularly not when we need to prioritize our backlogged criminal dockets with protecting the public from violent crime.
By being simply charged with a felony for the past two years, this husband/wife couple has had an incredibly hard time finding and keeping suitable employment to raise a family, applying for housing, seeking government benefits for their children - anything at all which requires a background check - which is almost everything these days. All for a case where the State didn’t even check to see if the “victim” had title to the property! Just because someone is charged - is not evidence of guilt.
State prosecutors and law enforcement have incredible power. This is often used for good, but can be abused. They can change people’s lives for years with the stroke of a pen on an affidavit. This is why we as a community must hold our elected leaders to account, get out and vote, know who/what it is you are voting for and always seek justice - for the haves and the have-nots.
Carr Law Firm Endows Another "Dr. Michael J. Carr Scholarship"
/Carr Law Firm is pleased to announce it has endowed yet another “Dr. Michael J. Carr Memorial Scholarship” for the 2021-22 academic year at Delta State University. This scholarship is awarded to a member of the Swimming and Diving Team who excels in the classroom, pool, and beyond. The recipient of this scholarship will be announced in the Fall of 2021.
Carr Law Firm donates to Shop With A Cop Program
/Carr Law Firm recently donated to The City of Cleveland Police Department's Shop with a Cop Program for this Christmas season.
For the past 25 years, this program has worked with different charitable organizations that nominate children each year.
Carr Law Firm believes this is a great opportunity for children to meet police officers and have a positive experience, especially during the holidays which can be a trying time for many families in our community. Programs like this supplement the practice of community policing, which has been shown to lower crime and increase nonviolent interactions between citizens and police officers.
Money donated to Shop with a Cop will be divided among the amount of children that are selected for the program. The Cleveland Police Department will take the children to Walmart and they will be allowed to spend their allotted money any way they choose, whether it is on clothes, toys, food, or other items.
Carr Reappointed to Budget and Finance Committee of the Mississippi Bar
/On Monday, August 17, 2020, Mississippi Bar President Jennifer Ingram Johnson reappointed Michael S. Carr of Carr Law Firm to be a member of the Budget and Finance Committee of the Mississippi Bar. This is a two-year appoint extending to 2022. The purpose of the Budget and Finance Committee is to prepare and present an annual budget to the Mississippi Bar Board of Commissioners, as well as any related duties which may be assigned to the President. This includes budgeting for all projects of The Mississippi Bar, allocation of funds to the Young Lawyers Division, special work committees, pro-bono activities, outreach to the community, as well as planning and financing the annual Mississippi Bar convention in Sandestin, Florida. Carr previously served a two-year term extending from 2018-2020.
Carr Selected as Fellow of The Young Lawyers of The Mississippi Bar
/Attorney Michael S. Carr was recently selected as a Fellow of The Young Lawyers of the Mississippi Bar. Fellows are chosen from members of the Bar who have served as an officer, director, local representative, or committee chairperson of the Division, or who have otherwise demonstrated their support for the Division and for young lawyers. Fellows shall have demonstrated a commitment to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Mississippi, to advance the science of jurisprudence, to promote and improve the administration of justice, to uphold the honor of the profession of law, to apply the knowledge and experience of the profession to the promotion of the public good, and to encourage cordial relationships among members of the Bar and among members of the American Bar Association. The number of selected Fellows shall not exceed sixty persons.
Carr Law Firm Welcomes Mckenzie Williamson as 2020 Summer Intern
/Carr Law Firm is pleased to announce the hiring of Mckenzie Williamson as a 2020 Summer intern. A 2016 graduate of Bayou Academy, Mckenzie is the former Student Body Vice President, Yearbook Editor, Community Service Coordinator, Cheer Captain, and Tennis Captain. Mckenzie continued her education at the University of Mississippi, wherein she was a Luckyday Scholar, Provost Scholar, Recruitment Counselor for National Panhellenic Conference, and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa. Mckenzie is a proud member of Phi Mu Sorority, and served as the Academic Excellence Chair of the Alpha Delta chapter. Graduating in only three years, Mckenzie was recognized Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. She also graduated with the academic achievements of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi. Mckenzie is currently going into her second year at the University of Mississippi School of Law, where she has been elected to server as the Attorney General of the Student Bar Association. During her first year at the University of Mississippi School of Law, Mckenzie was selected to be a member of the Negotiation Board, served as a first year representative on the Honor Council, and was awarded the “Outstanding Student Award” in Contracts. She is also a member of the Student Health Law Association, Law Association for Women, Dean’s Leadership Council, and Christian Legal Society.
Michael S. Carr named to list of America’s Top 100 criminal Defense Attorney’s for third year in a row.
/In October 2019, Michael S. Carr was yet again recognized as one of America’s top 100 criminal defense attorneys. With more than 50 felony criminal jury trials as lead counsel in state and federal court, Mike continues to achieve very favorable results for his clients throughout Mississippi. Membership to this list is limited to the top 100 professionals in each state in each category of practice the best exhibit excellence in the highest ethical standards in their respective professions. With these high standards, less than 1% of professionals in the United States are selected for membership as one of America’s top 100 in their profession.
Carr Selected to Mid-South Super Lawyers List
/Carr has recently been selected for the Mid-South area List of Super Lawyers. This honor is achieved by only 5% of practicing attorneys who have shown excellence in practice. Super Lawyers will publish this distinction in the December 2019 issue of Super Lawyers Magazine.
Carr Receives Recognition for MB Board of Commissioners Service, and Appointment to Budget and Finance Committee
/The Board of Commissioners serves as the executive agency of the Mississippi Bar Association. They make regulations for the conduct of the affairs of the Mississippi Bar and its attorneys, direct the manner and purpose for distribution of bar funds, promote effective governance on behalf of the bar, speak on behalf of the Mississippi Bar, and implement the rules of discipline for attorneys in the state.
Carr Accepts Second Adjunct Professorship at Delta State University
/Michael Carr was recently hired as an adjunct professor at Delta State University for the “Fall 2019” semester to teach a criminal law class, styled “Criminal Law ‘The Essentials’”. The class will focus on the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments; starting with incorporating real world examples and application to an active State and Federal criminal defense law practice. The class will be a required course for Social and Criminal Justice majors.
Recent Criminal Defense Wins
/May 31, 2017 - Circuit Court of Bolivar County - Aggravated Assault with Firearm - NOT GUILTY
October 11, 2017 - Circuit Court of Bolivar County - Sexual Battery - HUNG JURY
November 1, 2017 - Circuit Court of Tunica County - Count I: Conspiracy; Count II: Embezzlement - DIRECTED VERDICT FOR DEFENDANT
November 14, 2017 - Circuit Court of Bolivar County - Shooting into a Dwelling - NOT GUILTY
December 12, 2017 - Circuit Court of Bolivar County - Aggravated Assault with Vehicle - NOT GUILTY
March 26, 2018 - Circuit Court of Tunica County - Murder - NOT GUILTY
June 12, 2018 - Circuit Court of Bolivar County - Count I: Conspiracy; Count II: Armed Robbery - NOT GUILTY
August 14, 2018 - Circuit Court of Coahoma County - DUI: Death - NOT GUILTY
Carr Accepts Adjunct Professorship at DSU
/Michael Carr was recently hired as an adjunct professor by Delta State University to teach a constitutional law class styled “The Supreme Court, Race, and Civil Rights”. The class will focus on United States Supreme Court precedent starting with the Dred Scott decision through Brown v. Board of Education and culminate with the decisions of the Rehnquist Court from the 1990’s. In addition to race, the class will also focus on constitutional issues and case precedent concerning gender, equal rights, and due process under the 14th amendment.
Carr Law Firm featured in Summer/Fall 2018 Mississippi Lawyer Magazine
/Mississippi Lawyer Magazine recently featured an article written by Michael Carr along with Tametrice Hodges of Ridgeland and Phillip Thomas of Jackson styled “Marching To The Beat Of Your Own Drum: Opening and Running a Solo Practice”. The article focuses on practical tips for locating clients, using technology to streamline business, and efficient business practices to keep overhead low and income high. The article also focuses on the benefits of a solo practice as providing the ability to maintain a work-life balance.
Carr Speaks at MS College School of Law on Criminal Law CLE
/On Thursday September 20, 2018, Michael Carr of Carr Law Firm presented "Criminal Justice Act Panel: Independent Advocates for the Indigent" at Mississippi College School of Law. This presentation focused on the impact of the independent CJA panel in its zealous representation of indigent defendants accused of crimes in federal court - including tips for handling extensive electronic discovery and certifying cases as complex in RICO and DTO prosecutions. The presentation also discussed recent legal updates from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals involving searches and seizures per the 4th Amendment as well as updates in sentencing.
Carr Law Firm Welcomes Kathryn Scully
/Carr Law Firm is proud to welcome Kathryn Scully as its newest member of the team. Kathryn is an alumna of the Teach for America Mississippi 2015 Corps and has worked for the past three years teaching for the North Panola School District. Originally from Vienna, Virginia, she graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in History in 2015. Kathryn plans to attend law school in the fall of 2019.
