Number of Juror Challenges May be Changed Number of Juror Challenges May be Changed . California Senate Bill (SB) 213 would reduce the number or peremptory challenges in a misdemeanor trial from 10 down to 6. The theory is that this will “speed up justice”. During jury selection, many people have prejudices they will not admit out loud.…
Sports Injury or Assault with a Deadly Weapon? Sports Injury or Assault with a Deadly Weapon? . Anyone who has watched professional sports or even weekend warrior sports knows You can get hurt and. Some guys play dirty. During the October 11 Dodgers/Mets Playoff game, Chase Utley allegedly slid into third base a little too late and…
Your Rights in a Vehicle Stop: Contrasting Situations Your Rights in a Vehicle Stop: Contrasting Situations. On July 18, 2013, a Texas officer stopped a young woman named Sandra Bland for failing to signal a lane change. The officer’s dash-cam activated, capturing most of the audio and video during the incident. Ms. Bland complied by pulling…
California Supreme Court Strikes Down Certain Jessica’s Law Provisions California Supreme Court Strikes Down Certain Jessica’s Law Provisions . On March 2, 2015, the California Supreme Court decided In re Taylor, and declared the residency restrictions for registered sex offenders under the Jessica’s Law unconstitutional – but only as to the way San Diego County courts applied the law. Because…
IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NO EXCUSE! IGNORANCE OF THE LAW IS NO EXCUSE! . How many times have you heard “Ignorance of the law is no excuse!”, meaning that a person can break the law and still be charged with a crime, even if he does not know that he is breaking the law.
When Should You Help Someone Post Bail? When Should You Help Someone Post Bail? . I found this post to be funny, and had obvious common sense. I would say “Amen” to reason #2. Sometimes people in trouble for multiple drug offenses seem to be in a pattern where they cannot stop, and constantly come to the…
US Supreme Court: Police Cannot Search a Smartphone Without a Warrant US Supreme Court: Police Cannot Search a Smartphone Without a Warrant . When you are arrested, what happens to your property? In the past, police could seize your cell phone to determine whether you might be involved in more criminal activity than it appears at…
Texting + Driving Can Lead to Criminal Charges in California Texting + Driving Can Lead to Criminal Charges in California . For those of you who feel it is just not as safe on the roads after the invention of texting, here is more fuel for the fire: The Huffington Post published this story on Wednesday,…
Several news outlets recently published stories about Daniel Johnson, a 26 year old California man who filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office for excessive force. The complaint alleges that Johnson was inside his parents home, when someone knocked on the door and told him his father was receiving a ticket for…
In June 2013, the United States Supreme Court decided Salinas v. Texas. The effect of this decision further nips away at our 5th Amendment Constitutional right to remain silent—part of what we all hear on cop TV shows and movies as our “Miranda rights.” In that case, Mr. Salinas voluntarily went to the police department to clear his name…