Employers' Rights If you have a criminal conviction, convincing someone to hire you can be challenging. Even if you already have a job and are convicted of a crime, your livelihood may be at stake. Generally speaking, an employer has the right to ask for written consent to perform investigative c...
Two Actions: The DMV and the Court As part of any DUI case, there are two separate legal processes taking place: the criminal court process and the DMV process. The DMV process is administrative. Unless you request a DMV administrative review hearing, the DMV will automatically suspend your licen...
Pathways to Early Release California's prison system is one of the most crowded in the nation. Amidst severe overcrowding and enormous costs, California took steps to reduce the statewide inmate population to alleviate these problems. Despite the drastic situation, this reduction could only happe...
A Critical Decision Reports of domestic violence are taken very seriously. When responding to a domestic violence call, it can be difficult for law enforcement to know who is the victim and who is the abuser. Nevertheless, responding officers often make an arrest to prevent further violence from ...
A Favorable Exchange In certain criminal cases, a defendant, or, more likely, his or her attorney, may be able to negotiate a plea bargain. A plea bargain is essentially a deal between the defendant and the prosecuting attorney. Typically, the defendant receives a lesser charge in exchange for a ...
Traffic School and the Point System The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) maintains driving records for all California drivers, including commercial drivers. Driving points are assigned to driving records for certain offenses. The driving point system also called the Negligent Operato...
Bearing the Burden The U.S. judicial system relies on strict procedures to ensure justness and fairness. There are legal standards that must be met before a judgment can be made. These standards are particularly important to criminal defendants. Criminal defendants are presumed innocent until the...
When Your Job Is at Stake CDL holders are held to a higher standard than non-commercial vehicles, both on and off-duty. Needless to say, CDL holders must be extra careful on the road at all times. Commercial drivers can face more than just a fine if they get a traffic citation; they can face disc...
Checkpoint Rules Many people are arrested at the 2,500 or so sobriety checkpoints California operates throughout the state every year. For those facing DUI charges from a sobriety checkpoint stop, it is important to know and understand your rights as well as the legal requirements sobriety ...
CDLs and DUIs If you are a commercial driver such as a delivery driver, being convicted of a DUI introduces special considerations, even if you were driving off-duty and in your own vehicle. Not only can you lose your license, your job might be on the line as well. And commercial drivers can be h...
Tenuous Evidence When it comes to domestic violence offenses, the evidence is sometimes in scarce supply. Consequently, domestic violence cases are some of the toughest a criminal defense attorney will ever handle because of a few key factors. There are often no witnesses to the offense because m...
Restricting Your Driving If you get a DUI conviction in Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento or Tulare counties, the court will order you to install an ignition interlock device (IID) in any car you own or drive. Installing an IID will cost you in both time and money. Not only will you need to pay fo...
Drugs and DUIs When it comes to California DUI laws, driving under the influence of many substances is illegal. Alcohol is just one of these, albeit a very common one. Many other controlled substances, such as over the counter drugs, illicit drugs or even prescription drugs have the potential to ...
The Future of California DUI Penalties In California, certain DUI offenders are required to install ignition interlock devices in the cars they own or drive. These devices prohibit drivers from starting their car without first providing a breath sample with no detectable alcohol in it. The device...
How Do Criminal Convictions Affect Voting Rights? Voting rights are important to many Americans. Especially in today's political climate, the right to vote is a great way to make your voice heard. And, as California proposes more and more controversial laws, every vote counts. Unfortunately, a pe...
Knowing What to Disclose When applying for jobs in California, having a criminal past can hold you back. In today's day and age, whether or not it is fair, hiring managers frequently don't give applicants with criminal histories the time of day. Because of this, many job seekers with criminal his...
An Important Designation Among the potential criminal charges you could face, felonies are the most serious. Far more serious than infractions or misdemeanors, felonies are punishable by prison time and can revoke many rights. Felonies considered as violent are unique in that they often result in...
Facing DUI charges is stressful, confusing, and overwhelming. Aside from worrying about your future, you will be encountering many legal terms you may not understand. But to face your charges with confidence, you will need to understand the basics of DUI law. To help you do that, here are ten DUI...
Following Proper Procedure Many DUI cases hinge on the results of blood alcohol content (BAC) tests. Because these tests can have such serious consequences, they are subject to numerous regulations. These regulations ensure the tests produce legally valid and accurate results and do not violate t...
Domestic Violence and Your Domicile A domestic violence conviction can turn your life upside down. It can cost you money, time, and freedom. In conjunction with a domestic violence conviction, a judge can issue a restraining order against the defendant. Restraining order is a general term; there ...
Statutes vs. Common Law Legal terminology sometimes referred to as legalese, is complicated in part by the convoluted structure of the judicial system. Legal decisions can come from different authoritative bodies, be it a government or a judge. There are different courts that handle different typ...
Defining the Victim Abuse comes in many forms, and these forms often depend on whom the victim is. While the abuse of a domestic partner, a cohabitant, a child, or a family member are all potentially punishable offenses, they can result in different charges and thus different sentences. One of th...
The Rules of Using Evidence In a criminal trial, both the prosecution and the defense have a chance to introduce evidence in the case. The evidence helps inform the judge or jury's decision. Only certain things can be introduced as evidence in a criminal trial, and the evidence must adhere to the...
Changing Times and Changing Laws Over the years, the legal status of marijuana across the nation has changed. As we grow more tolerant, better understand how marijuana affects the body, recognize the detrimental effects from incarcerating marijuana users, and learn about how revenue can be genera...
A Key Witness In criminal trials, both sides (the prosecution and the defendant) can produce witnesses to provide information (testimony) relevant to the case. In many cases, the prosecuting attorney will call the arresting officer as a witness. Indeed, the arresting officer is sometimes the most...
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.
