Caseprep / The Open File / Authors
Calvin Ashby
Legal process and evidence writer · 10 articles
About Calvin
Calvin Ashby became interested in how cases are built after watching a friend try to make sense of a stack of DUI paperwork the morning after a beach weekend went wrong. The documents were full of unfamiliar terms, two separate deadlines and no plain explanation of what any of it meant. He went looking for clear answers and found that most of them were buried in statutes and legal jargon.
On The Open File he writes about the evidence and procedure behind DUI cases, with a focus on South Carolina and the Grand Strand: how evidence is built, how video is reviewed, how field sobriety and breath tests work, what happens after an arrest, how license suspension hearings differ from the criminal case, what records to preserve, what visitors should know, how to choose a lawyer and why defense review matters.
Calvin is not a lawyer, and nothing he writes is legal advice. He writes so that people understand the process well enough to ask good questions, and he always encourages readers facing a charge to speak with a licensed attorney promptly, because some deadlines are short.
Writes about: DUI evidence, dash and body camera video, field sobriety tests, breath testing and implied consent, the DUI process in South Carolina, license hearings, choosing counsel, discovery and defense review.
Passionate about
- Lining up every time stamp on a single timeline
- Reading the report and the video side by side
- Explaining two deadlines before either one is missed
- Plain-English guides to South Carolina procedure
- Fair process for everyone in the file
- Sober rides home on the Grand Strand
10 articles
Everything Calvin has written
Why Every Case File Has Two Sides: Discovery, Defense Review and Fairness
The same evidence is read by prosecutors and defense attorneys for different purposes. Why discovery and thorough defense review make the justice system work better for everyone.
Choosing CounselQuestions to Ask When Choosing a DUI Lawyer
Choosing a lawyer after a DUI arrest is a big decision made under stress. Practical questions to ask in a consultation about experience, approach, communication and fees.
VisitorsA DUI on the Grand Strand When You Live Somewhere Else: What Visitors Should Know
Millions visit Myrtle Beach every year. If a trip ends with a DUI arrest, out-of-state drivers face court dates, license questions and distance. A general guide.
RecordsPreserving Your Own Records After an Arrest: What to Write Down and Keep
Memories fade and footage is overwritten. A practical guide to the notes, documents and potential evidence a person can preserve after a DUI arrest to help their lawyer.
LicenseLicense Suspension Hearings After a DUI: Why the Administrative Case Moves Faster
A DUI arrest can start two separate cases: the criminal charge and an administrative license suspension. How the administrative side works and why its deadline comes first.
Legal ProcessWhat Happens After a DUI Arrest in South Carolina: The Process, Step by Step
Booking, bond, suspension notices, court dates, discovery and resolution. A general roadmap of the DUI process in South Carolina so the next steps feel less unknown.
Chemical TestsBreath Tests and Implied Consent in South Carolina: A Plain-Language Overview
What implied consent generally means in South Carolina, how evidentiary breath tests work, what records exist behind a breath result and why refusal has separate consequences.
Field TestsField Sobriety Tests Explained: The Three Standardized Tests and What Can Affect Them
Horizontal gaze nystagmus, walk-and-turn and one-leg stand: how the standardized field sobriety tests work, what officers look for and the conditions that can skew results.
Video EvidenceBody Camera and Dash Camera Footage in DUI Cases: What Video Can and Cannot Show
Video often carries the most weight in a DUI file. How dash and body camera footage is created, what it reveals, where it falls short and why it should be requested early.
DUI EvidenceHow Evidence Is Built in a DUI Case, From the Traffic Stop to the Courtroom
A DUI file is assembled piece by piece: the reason for the stop, observations, field tests, chemical tests and video. A plain-language look at how each piece fits.