Attorney Russell Richelsoph at Davis Miles, PLLC

04/25/2026

Looks like a Phoenix police officer was more worried about her job and assignment then she was in not arresting innocent people with no probable cause.

A lawsuit claims the Phoenix PD enforces a "de facto DUI quota," alleging officers worry they will face adverse employment consequences if they fail to generate enough arrests.

02/19/2026

02/14/2026

I appeared on my good friend Robert N. Sewell,'s podcast discussing the rising problems and legal issues regarding teenagers on e-bikes and electric motorcycles on our city streets.

01/25/2026

Can a Presidential Pardon Protect Federal Agents from State Charges? ⚖️

There is a common misconception that a Presidential Pardon acts as a "Get Out of Jail Free" card for any act a federal agent commits on the clock. But when state murder charges are on the table, the law is far more complex.

Even if a federal agent is pardoned by the President, a State can still attempt to prosecute them for murder. Here is the breakdown of why that is:

1. The "Dual Sovereignty" Reality: The President’s pardon power (Article II, Sec. 2) is strictly limited to "Offenses against the United States." Murder is typically a state-level offense. Because the federal government and the State are separate "sovereigns," a pardon for federal civil rights violations doesn't touch a state's murder charge.

2. Removal to Federal Court is Only a Change of Scenery: If a federal agent is charged by a local County Attorney, they will almost always "remove" the case to federal court under 28 U.S.C. § 1442. However, moving the trial to a federal building doesn't change the crime. The case remains The State vs. The Agent, and the federal judge must still apply state law.

3. The Shield vs. The Pardon: The real protection for federal agents isn't a pardon—it’s Supremacy Clause Immunity (In re Neagle). If an agent can prove they were carrying out federal law and acted "reasonably and necessarily," a federal judge can dismiss the state charges entirely.

The Bottom Line: If that immunity fails and an agent is convicted of a state crime in a federal courtroom, the President is powerless to intervene.

12/11/2025

A Phoenix couple has agreed to a plea deal after the tragic death of their infant and the discovery of severe malnutrition in their other children. Many are asking: Why were the murder charges dropped?

The answer lies in the high burden of proof regarding "parental choice" in Arizona courts.

I sat down to discuss why prosecutors likely avoided a trial, the role of conflicting medical experts, and what this plea means for the sentencing in January.

Watch my full analysis at the link below.

I was recently interviewed by Alexis Dominguez with Arizona's Family regarding the case of Janiece Brooks and Tremaure Stanley. The Phoenix couple has been i...

12/10/2025

Tremaure Lavant Stanley and Janiece Shayann Brooks entered plea agreements today after 1 child died and 3 required hospitalization for malnutrition after the children were put on an "alkaline diet". Watch my interview with Alexis Dominguez on azfamily 3TV CBS 5 tonight at 6pm discussing the case.

12/05/2025

I was on True Crime Arizona tonight with Briana Whitney TV talking about the Luigi Mangione case on the azfamily 3TV CBS 5 video podcast.

Tonight on True Crime AZ Live, we’re breaking down two major cases making headlines.THE BIG CASE: Luigi MangioneMangione returned to court this week as his d...

11/07/2025

Davis Miles, PLLC was named a Best Law Firm by Best Lawyers! We have attorneys who handle pretty much every practice area you could need, so if you have a legal problem, even if it is not criminal, feel free to reach out and I can connect you with one of our great lawyers.

From Commercial Litigation to Commercial Transactions, and from Probate Litigation to Real Estate Law, Bankruptcy, Construction and Criminal Defense - and from Arizona to New Mexico to Utah, we have been ranked by our peers as one of the Best law firms in the U.S. for 2026!

10/25/2025

I did a follow up interview with Arizona's Family Reporter Alexis Dominguez regarding an update in a police officer's widow's dispute with the City of Phoenix regarding the proposed sale of the pistol used to murder her husband.

Attorney Russ Richelsoph in a follow up interview with Arizona's Family Reporter Alexis Dominguez regarding an update in a police officer's widow's dispute w...

10/24/2025

I was interviewed by azfamily 3TV CBS 5 reporter Alexis Dominguez about a Phoenix widow's lawsuit to stop the sale of the gun used to murder her husband, Police Officer Nick Erfle, in the line of duty in 2007. Another follow-up interview with new developments will air tonight at 5pm and 6pm on 3TV.

Arizona attorney Russ Richelsoph is interviewed by reporter Alexis Dominguez about a Phoenix widow's lawsuit to stop the sale of the gun used to murder her h...