Category: Legal Reform

    Need Legal Advice? The Cohen Law Firm

    If you’ve been charged with a crime, you are at a crossroad. One path leads to prison time, large fines and a lifetime of social scrutiny; the other offers a chance at freedom. The choice is clear: you need The Cohen Law Firm.Located in Atlanta, Georgia, The Cohen Law Firm provides strong, dedicated criminal defense to individuals facing everything from drug offenses and gun crimes to violent crimes such as murder.

    DeKalb County Criminal Law Attorneys

    Attorneys Andy Cohen and Jill Polster are experienced, aggressive criminal defense lawyers. Polster, a former prosecutor, and Cohen, a career defense attorney, met trying a murder case against each other. They have extensive experience trying everything from misdemeanor drug cases to even the most complicated high-profile capital crimes. This experience gives the firm special insight into the inner workings of the state’s criminal justice system. We have the experience to anticipate the prosecution’s every move and to proactively develop a winning defense strategy.

    Our years of criminal defense experience paired with prosecutorial experience means there is no case our attorneys haven’t encountered and no case our firm can’t handle.

    At The Cohen Law Firm, we understand the fear and stress caused by a criminal charge. Our attorneys personally invest their time, attention and resources to get our clients the most favorable result possible. We do everything in our power to help our clients defeat their criminal charges.

    At The Cohen Law Firm, we fight for your rights, your freedom and your future. Our attorneys have a reputation for being fierce trial attorneys. Prosecutors throughout the state know we aren’t afraid of a courtroom battle and will do whatever is necessary to protect our clients.

    Because we are known as lawyers eager to take our clients’ cases to trial, we are often able to highlight weaknesses in the state’s case and use those weaknesses to negotiate the most favorable plea terms possible. While we always consider beneficial plea agreements, we will not compromise our clients’ rights for an “easy deal.” If a plea bargain is not in your best interests, we will go to trial to protect your rights.

    If You Have Questions, We Have Answers

    At The Cohen Law Firm, we know criminal charges aren’t confined to the 9-to-5. Our attorneys are available to help you when you need it most. If you have been charged with a crime, contact us for a free consultation. Our experienced legal team will answer your most pressing questions.

      Georgia Online Voter Registration

      Voter Registration Application

      To register to vote you must:

      • Be a citizen of the United States
      • Be a legal resident of the county
      • Be at least 17 1/2 years of age to register and 18 years of age to vote
      • Not be serving a sentence for conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude
      • Have not been found mentally incompetent by a judge 

      Postage-paid voter registration application in Adobe Acrobat PDF format.  Type your information into the boxes on the form, print, and mail. You must have the Adobe Acrobat reader (available free of charge from Adobe) installed on your computer in order to view or print this form.

      Note: Voter registration is a county function. Georgia counties issue precinct cards after reviewing and processing applications. Please allow the county at least 3 to 4 weeks before contacting your county.

      Georgia citizens have access to several convenient methods of registering to vote:

      • Download, complete and mail a voter registration application.
      • You can go to your local  county board of registrars’ office  or election office, public library, public assistance office, recruitment office, schools and other government offices for a mail-in registration form.
      • Registration is offered when you renew or apply for your driver’s license at Department of Motor Vehicle Safety driver’s license posts.
      • College students can obtain Georgia voter registration forms, or the necessary forms to register in any state in the U.S., from their school registrar’s office or from the office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

      Change of Residence

      Voters are required to notify the board of registrars of their county of residence whenever they move.

      If you move within the same county in which you are registered to vote and don’t notify the registrar at least 30 days prior to an election, you may vote in your old polling place for that election. You must file a notice of your new address. This can be done by writing to your county board of registrars’ office , or by submitting a new voter registration application.

      If you move outside the county in which you are registered to vote within 30 days of an election, you may vote in your old precinct for that election.

      If you move outside the county in which you are registered to vote in excess of 30 days prior to an election, you have lost your eligibility to vote in the county of your old residence. You must register to vote in your new county of residence. You will be assigned a new voting precinct and polling location. Remember, if you don’t register to vote by the deadline, you cannot vote in that particular election.

      Precinct Cards

      If you have misplaced or have not received your precinct card within three to four weeks of submitting your voter registration application, please contact your local county registration office  to request a new precinct card or to check the status of your application. You may also check whether you are registered through MVP.

        Georgia CARE Focuses On New Legislation SB-432

        According to James Bell, a lobbyist for marijuana law reform, the proposed legislation (HB-885) falls short in delivering quality, safe and legal access to cannabis. One component of the bill would give immunity from prosecution to anyone who smuggles cannabis extracts into Georgia. Bell claims the proposal encourages profiteers and patients to violate federal laws that could land someone in federal prison for ten years to life.

        “HB-885 sets up yet another black market and jeopardizes the freedom of those seeking legal medicine”, Bell said. “We need to legalize cultivation of cannabis in Georgia. We need comprehensive legislation that removes cannabis from the criminal elements.”

        Georgia CARE grudgingly supported HB-885 in hope that it would spark debate and culminate in a bill that would provide legal access. Instead, HB-885 is so restrictive that even sponsors say it may never get cannabis into the hands of patients.

        Bell said after reading Senator Thompson’s 24 page bill (SB-432) he will focus his attention on the 2015 legislative session and begin to work toward a better bill that allows for legal cultivation, dispensing and doctors recommendations for cannabis use.

        “Putting patients in criminal jeopardy is no solution to this issue. Lawmakers seem willing to entertain a broader, more comprehensive approach to cannabis therapeutics. We cannot look to states like Colorado for a solution and then turn a blind eye to a similar legislative model”, said Bell.

        Georgia CARE Project advocates for marijuana law reform including decriminalization, medicalization and cultivation of industrial hemp. For more information visit www.gacareproject.com .