Armen "Hammer" Merjanian, Lawyer

01/02/2023

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/02/us/atlanta-gun-laws.html

In states with permissive gun laws, police and prosecutors have limited tools at their disposal when a heavily armed individual sows fear or panic in public.

02/11/2021

It's true what they say, the camera really does add on 10lbs 😳
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=260808885410271

11/22/2020

Grateful to the jurors who held the government to their burden and much love to my 2nd chair who tried this very difficult case with me during a pandemic.

12/01/2017

“You can promise yourself you’ll never commit a crime, but you can’t promise yourself that someone else will never accuse you of committing a crime” -Me

A 22-year-old Baytown woman was arrested Thursday, accused of trying to frame her boyfriend with false charges of domestic violence and bribery of a state district judge. Lisa Marie Garcia was charged with retaliation and online impersonation in a case prosecutors called "a nightmare." She is accuse...

05/04/2017

Poor people shouldn't have to sit in jail simply because they're poor! A federal judge in Houston agrees. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/29/us/judge-strikes-down-harris-county-bail-system.html?_r=0

The judge’s ruling said that the system is unfair to the poor and that it violates the Constitution.

09/20/2016

Would Terence Crutcher still be alive if his car hadn't broken down? What if he were white?

06/09/2016

In Texas, provisions of our penal code are enacted with the intent to insure public safety through:
1. deterrent influence of the penalties provided;
2. rehabilitation of those convicted of violations; AND
3. punishment as may be necessary to prevent likely recurrence of criminal behavior.

Deterrence, Rehabilitation, Punishment. It's no coincidence that rehabilitation is listed before punishment, people! I'm certain California, being more liberal than Texas, has a penal code which emphasizes rehabilitation more than we do. That being said, judges like Judge Persky should be commended, not chastised, for doing what the law tells them to do!

http://publicdefenders.us/?q=node%2F1079

My thoughts on the budding furor after a Santa Clara County Judge, the Honorable Aaron Persky, sentenced former Stanford student-athlete Brock Turner to 6 months jail and probation after a jury convicted Turner of three felony r**e charges for a sexual assault upon a female that took place on/near S...

03/02/2016

How dare the DA even take this case to trial? Police officers don't always do the right things, that's why we have prosecutors whose duty it is to seek justice, NOT a conviction. Fast forward the video to about 1:20 and watch, will make you sick to your stomach.
http://thefreethoughtproject.com/mother-assaulted-arrested-stopping-cop-shooting-dog-video-guilty/

For stepping in front a cop who was about to kill her dog, a woman was assaulted and charged -- but the video saved her at trial.

02/17/2016

Apple gets it! What the GOVERNMENT is trying to do is circumvent the protections given to us by the 4th amendment - the right to be free from unlawful searches and seizures.
It's simple, if the Government wants data from our (i)phones, all they need to do is have a "neutral" judge or magistrate review an affidavit for probable cause and sign a search warrant.
The government's request for Apple to create a new iOS to bypass the search warrant process goes against everything the United States stands for. I'm proud of Tim Cook to have taken a stand against tyranny by writing this letter; I pray you do too.
http://www.apple.com/customer-letter/

A Message to Our Customers

12/16/2015

I've offered to represent this man free of charge. What are y'all's thoughts?
http://abc13.com/news/charges-being-filed-after-man-had-freeway-shut-down-for-marriage-proposal/1123847/

Last night, we brought you the story of a man who had I-45 shut down to propose to his girlfriend. Now, Eyewitness News has learned the couple is facing charges. Eyewitness News has learned that the Harris County District Attorney's Office is charging both Vidal Valladares, 24, and Michelle Wyco…

09/09/2015

06/27/2015

This is a very real problem in our justice system. Fixing it is just one of many things that is all about..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS5mwymTIJU

John Oliver explains why America’s bail system is better for the reality tv industry than it is for the justice system. Connect with Last Week Tonight online...