When Courts Get It Wrong Sometimes courts make mistakes. When those mistakes happen, wrongfully convicted criminal defendants might have a right to appeal a trial verdict. As long as the defendant has grounds, he or she may file an appeal. The ground is the legally justified for the appeal. If yo...
Get a Stay to Stay on the Road Once you're arrested for a DUI, the countdown to your license suspension begins. The arresting officer will give you a notice of your suspension, which states your suspension will go into effect in 30 days. Inaction is the quickest route to losing your license. If y...
Appearing at Your Hearing If you are facing proceedings with the California Department of Motor Vehicles, you probably want to know what to expect. Many people have never been to an administrative hearing of any kind. Without knowing what to expect, it's hard to prepare, which can hurt your chanc...
When the Deck is Stacked Against You When you are being prosecuted for a crime, many factors can influence your case. The facts and circumstances of your offense can influence how the prosecuting attorney files the charge. And many additional factors can influence how the judge sentences you. Amo...
Specialists vs. Generalists Licensed attorneys can provide legal advice on a wide range of legal topics. They are trained to interpret and apply the law. Although laws vary from issue to issue, attorneys have the general skills needed to practice law. At the same time, people who seek the help of...
The Points Add Up Among the many consequences of a DUI conviction, you will become involved with the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which oversees your driving privileges. The DMV will handle your Administrative Per Se license suspension, which is an automatic license suspension that ta...
The Effect of a Criminal Conviction on Your Career A domestic violence conviction isn't like any other criminal conviction. Domestic violence carries a stigma with it that is hard to shake. Even more so than assault, domestic violence offenses are seen as particularly immoral given the nature of ...
Willful Evasion When it comes to law enforcement, police officers have immense power and authority. Because of their unique status in society, crimes that obstruct their duties or harm them in some way are punished severely. Evading an officer is one such criminal offense that isn't taken lightly...
Record cleaning is a growing service industry. The number of Americans with criminal records is rising. Some studies claim up to 1/3 of all working-age adults has a criminal record. Given this figure, it seems unfair for an employer to make a hiring decision based off of a criminal record. But th...
DMV administrative hearings are much like criminal court hearings. They take place before a hearing officer—rather than a judge—and involve the presentation of evidence and argument to establish facts. Those facts, when coupled with a review of the law, often result in a decision being made as to...
Legal Proceedings DMV hearings are administrative proceedings separate from the criminal court. Generally speaking, a hearing is a brief proceeding used to establish certain facts or issues relevant to the case. Typically, a hearing involves both the presentation of evidence and arguments. On the...
Driving on a suspended license is a serious offense in California that can result in fines and even jail time. But believe it or not, many people are caught driving on a suspended license and argue they didn't know about the suspension. To make sure you aren't caught unaware, you should learn abo...
The Initial Hold Counties across California can issue steep fines for even minor traffic violations. And when you can't pay those fines—or go to court to contest them—you put your license at risk. 40509.5 is the legal code section that permits the traffic court to tell the DMV to put a hold on yo...
Lifting Restrictions Probation is a common penalty for criminal convictions. Many crimes can result in one to three years of probation, during which time the defendant is subject to certain restrictions and requirements. Violating the terms of your probation can result in a longer probation perio...
An Important Right Your right to due process is protected under the U.S. Constitution. This is an important right to understand because it protects you on all levels of government, including the state government in California. This right ensures that without fair judicial proceedings, you cannot ...
Summertime Sobriety Checkpoints Sobriety checkpoints are ubiquitous in summer months across the State of California. Summer, with its holidays, festivals, and other events and activities, can result in more drunk drivers on the road. California operates around 2,500 sobriety checkpoints across th...
When You Are at a Disadvantage Being convicted of a crime is a life-altering event. Not only will you be punished by the criminal court, but you will also carry that conviction with you the rest of your life in the form of a criminal background. And, unfortunately, many people can access that inf...
A DUI With Complications Many factors can affect a DUI case in California. One of the more significant ones is whether you caused an accident, injured someone, or damaged property while driving under the influence. If you caused a minor accident and no one was injured, you will probably only face...
Know Your Rights Californians possess many rights when it comes to when and how a criminal conviction can be held against them for employment purposes. At this point, most non-governmental employers cannot inquire about a conviction that has been expunged or an arrest that did not end in a convic...
When Your Status Changes The California Department of Motor Vehicle's Negligent Operator Treatment System keeps tabs on all Californian drivers. Acting as a centralized database of driving records, the system assigns points for driving code violations and accidents and takes action when a driver ...
Removing Evidence of Serious Offenses California recognizes two main types of criminal offenses: misdemeanors and felonies. Between the two, felonies are more serious, and misdemeanors are less serious. Not surprisingly, a felony conviction can hold you back in many ways and haunt you for the res...
Theft is a prevalent crime in California. How a defendant is sentenced for a theft conviction depends on many factors. There are two main theft crimes in California: grand theft and petty theft. Each is sentenced differently. Petty theft is typically charged as a misdemeanor. Misdemeanors are typ...
Driving Without the Right The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can suspend or revoke your license for many reasons, some of which are unrelated to driving. Many people need a car to get around California where public transportation is lacking, and this creates a problem. If you need ...
In California, you can be charged with a crime if you help—in any way—a felon avoid getting in trouble. Helping someone who has committed a felony avoid the authorities or prosecution is referred to as being an accessory after the fact. The legal definition of “accessory after the fact” is harbor...
The Domestic Violence Threshold Domestic violence is one of the lesser-understood types of California criminal charges, in part because so many different actions can be considered domestic violence and there doesn't necessarily need to be hard proof of violence. A prosecuting attorney can file do...
We focus on defending clients accused of Domestic Violence and Driving Under the Influence (DUI), two of the most aggressively prosecuted charges in California. Every case starts with listening. We take the time to understand your situation, your concerns, and your goals so we can build a defense strategy tailored specifically to you. If you are under investigation or have already been charged, do not wait. Early action can make a critical difference in your case. Contact us today for a confidential consultation.
