What to do if I was charged with obstruction of the judicial system for deleting data on my phone while it was in police custody?
Question Details: I did it after i was arraigned. Does the arraignment count as a "pending judicial proceeding"? I was also charged with disorderly conduct and that was dismissed with prejudice. How is it possible to later be charged with obstruction if the charge was dismissed with prejudice. That means the judicial proceeding is over, right?
Yes, arraignment is a pending judicial proceeding. This is all part of the criminal proceeding. Disorderly conduct being dismissed with prejudice means you cannot be charged again for it under these circumstances regarding this matter. Obstruction of judicial system is different than disorderly conduct and do not have the same elements. One doesn't preclude a charge for the other.
