Blog Posts in 2011

• Posted By Scott Hughes 18-Nov-2011

  California Court of Appeal Holds That Inserting a Key in Door of a Residence Without a Warrant Does Not Violate the Fourth Amendment

  In People v. Robinson, the defendant made an alleged assault on a police officer and abandoned his vehicle. Leaving his keys behind, the police officers followed defendant's expended gun cartridges and tested the keys. One of the keys fit into the ...

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• Posted By Scott Hughes 17-Nov-2011

  Facebook Is Watching Your Internet Activity

  USA Today and the ACLU recently brought to light that Facebook employs tracking methods to monitor your Internet activity, even if you are not logged into Facebook or click the Facebook "Like" button. Facebook is able to do this because ...

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• Posted By Scott Hughes 30-Sep-2011

  California Prison Realignment

  October 1, 2011, AB 109 will take effect in the state of California. More commonly known as "realignment," the bill is a response to the U.S. Supreme Court's May order for California to reduce its prison population. The basic concept is to ...

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• Posted By Scott Hughes 22-Sep-2011

  Orange County District Attorney Files Murder Charges Against Fullerton Officers in the Beating Death of a Homeless Man

  After investigation, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackaukas announced in a news conference today his decision to charge Officer Manuel Ramos and Corporal Jay Cincinelli in the death of Kelly Thomas, a mentally ill, homeless man. Officer Ramos ...

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• Posted By Scott Hughes 21-Sep-2011

  Gov. Jerry Brown Signs Bill Allowing Local Authorities to Regulate Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

  On August 31, Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 1300 (AB 1300), which gives local law enforcement the power to promulgate and enforce ordinances imposing restrictions on marijuana dispensaries. The bill was drafted after much legal debate ...

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• Posted By Scott Hughes 17-Aug-2011

  Can the Game Be Prosecuted for His Twitter Posting?

  On Friday, August 12 th, a posting on rapper "The Game's" Twitter account offered an internship with his Black Wall Street label and posted the number of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in Compton, California. As The Game had ...

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• Posted By Scott Hughes 15-Aug-2011

  Can police use your cell phone to track you?

  As discussed in our previous posts, the Fourth Amendment requires that police obtain a search warrant or have reasonable suspicion of a crime before searching a person or their property. However, growing concern has arisen over police use of cell ...

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• Posted By Scott Hughes 16-Jul-2011

  Casey Anthony Verdict Prompts Online Petition to Hold Parents Accountable for Reporting Missing Children

  Last week's verdict where Casey Anthony was found not guilty of child abuse and murdering her two-year-old child, Caylee, prompted dissatisfied citizens to start an internet movement for pass legislation that would require parents and guardians to ...

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• Posted By Scott Hughes 13-Jul-2011

  California's "Second Chance" Bill Offers Hope to Imprisoned Youth

  California's Senate Bill (SB) 9 offers hope to those inmates in California currently serving life without parole sentences for crimes committed while still a juvenile. SB 9 provides inmates serving sentences of life without parole for crimes ...

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• Posted By Scott Hughes 15-Feb-2011

  Physicians Must Report Felony or Misdemeanor Convictions

  A Physician in California must report a conviction of either a felony or a misdemeanor to the California State Medical Board.Doctors must report their convictions to the medical board within 30 days of the date of conviction. Doctors who fail to ...

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• Posted By Scott Hughes 11-Feb-2011

  Misdemeanor and Infraction Criminal Appeals

  The defendant may appeal a judgment or order in misdemeanor or infraction cases to the appellate division of the superior court of the county in which the case was heard. The defendant in a misdemeanor or infraction case has a pretrial right to ...

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• Posted By Scott Hughes 19-Jan-2011

  Propensity evidence may not be as clear-cut as it seems!

  In light of a recent decision released by the Court of Appeal for the Fifth District of California, criminal defense attorneys in California will have to be careful when it comes to propensity evidence Generally, evidence of prior criminal acts is ...

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