Rules of the Court One of the reasons why many defendants need attorneys when facing criminal trials is because there are numerous trial rules and procedures that all involved parties must adhere to. To ensure the fairness and integrity of the judicial system, California courts set forth detailed...
Understanding Criminal Records When you are arrested, charged with a crime, or convicted of a crime, information about your case will be put on your criminal record. Criminal record is a general term. Different pieces of information and levels of detail will be included on different records, and ...
Seek Advice and Review Your Rights Law enforcement officers intimidate many people. Today we hear stories of police misconduct and police brutality, and this causes many people to distrust the police. But entering into a police encounter with this attitude can work against your interests. You hav...
Booking Then Bail After you are booked into jail, you may be able to be released from custody on the condition that you return on your court date. Posting bail is one of the ways you can be released before your court date. Bail is money you give to the court to be released. The bail works as a se...
Proving You Were Driving Under the Influence In California, you can be convicted of a DUI for driving while under the influence of alcohol or by having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher. The prosecutor does not have to prove both of these elements to convict you, but in most c...
The Right to Representation Criminal defendants in the U.S. have a right to counsel. This means they have a right to attorney representation when facing criminal charges. Public defenders can also be appointed in juvenile cases as well as some family law matters. The right to representation is a ...
Understanding Court-Ordered Fines For many California crimes, you can face steep fines as a component of your sentencing. Your fines may be the least of your worries, especially if you are also facing a jail sentence, but they are a part of your sentence that must be fulfilled. Some people don't ...
The Phone Call Most people don't know what to do when they've been arrested. Being handcuffed and booked into jail is a demeaning experience, in the midst of which you may not be able to think clearly about how to protect yourself. For this reason, the first thing you should do after an arrest is...
Do You Have a Chance? Facing DUI charges would leave even the most grounded person in a panic. You stand to lose your license, several thousand dollars, and not to mention your dignity. The good news is many defendants are able to beat their DUI charges with the help of a skilled attorney. You sh...
Disadvantages of Domestic Violence With many crimes, you can face fines, imprisonment, and probation if convicted. Certain crimes, domestic violence crimes for instance, also result in a host of other consequences, some of which cannot be avoided. Here are five facts about domestic violence charg...
A More Progressive State Laws are always changing, especially in a progressive state like California. Like recent changes in Washington and Oregon, California's marijuana laws have recently been changed under Proposition 64, which was passed by voters in the November 2016 election. Marijuana user...
It's All in the Numbers Domestic violence offenses are aggressively prosecuted in California. California employs dedicated prosecution units to ensure every case is prosecuted and each and every guilty defendant is punished. While other criminal offenses aren't handled with this level of scrutiny...
Establishing Legal Protection Victims of domestic violence, assault, harassment and stalking, or other similar crimes often turn to the police to seek help. The police can then help a person ask the court for legal protection. If the court finds reason to believe the victim needs protection, it c...
One of the most well-known rights of criminal defendants is the right to an attorney. This right is protected under the Sixth Amendment and is one of the most important rights criminal defendants have. A criminal defendant has the right to seek legal counsel in most criminal cases. Here is where ...
Beating the Odds Job hunting is hard enough. You have to dress the right way, talk the right way, and know the right people just to get your foot in the door. Factor in a criminal record, and you can face some serious adversity in the job market, no matter the charge. We all have to work, and hav...
Fight for Your Rights For many people, having a driver's license is a necessity. Many of us need to drive to work or school, during our jobs, or to take care of our family. It's no wonder why so many people panic when they find themselves facing DUI charges. Criminal conviction aside, some people...
The Different Types of Abuse Domestic violence is one of the least understood crimes. The terms violence and abuse tend to bring to mind physical injuries, such as broken bones and bruises. In reality, domestic violence goes far beyond such injuries. All acts of domestic violence are a crime in C...
Going All the Way When being charged with a DUI, you have a few options for dealing with your case. Unfortunately, many people aren't aware of their options and plead guilty or no-contest, thinking they have no chance if they choose to fight. But there are other options. You can also hire an atto...
Facing the Penalties A domestic violence conviction will result in several harsh penalties, including jail time and large fines. California takes an aggressive stance toward domestic violence offenses. Dedicated prosecution units handle domestic violence cases, giving defendants very little chanc...
Trial Procedure The use of evidence in criminal trials is heavily regulated. We all enjoy the right to freedom from unreasonable search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment. This is a very important right to have, especially in a criminal trial. In a criminal trial, the prosecutor bears the bur...
Essential Student Aid For many students, federal financial aid is an indispensable source of support that helps them get through school. Without financial aid, many students do not have the option to go to college. Federal financial aid is indeed a valuable privilege, but students can lose that p...
Different Defenses Facing DUI charges doesn't necessarily mean you will be convicted. Successful DUI defenses are used to help people avoid convictions everyday. The prosecution must prove you were driving under the influence to convict you, and sometimes this is hard to do based off of the relat...
Petitioning for Forgiveness If you've been convicted of a felony and sentenced to state prison or otherwise put under the authority of the California Department of Corrections, your options for cleaning your record are limited. You are not eligible to have a conviction dismissed through the proce...
Trials With No Errors If you are facing DUI charges and want to fight them, you may be considering whether trial is right for you. If you decide to go to trial to fight your charges, your next decision will be whether or not to hire a trial attorney. You may not need a criminal defense attorney...
Background Check Basics One of the most cumbersome effects of a criminal conviction is having a criminal record. Long after your sentence is served and your fines are paid, you will face constant reminders of your mistake every time someone runs a criminal background check on you. And that can ha...
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.
