California Criminal Law

How Bail Works: Setting Bail

How Bail Works: Setting Bail  While there are various situations that can get someone arrested, the bail process still remains the same. Scenario: A woman named Amanda goes shopping and pays for everything with bad checks. With the new check clearing systems available to retailers today, Amanda gets caught, arrested and taken to jail. This…

California Criminal Law | California DUI law | California Traffic Tickets

San Bernardino Legal Troubles Handled at the Fontana Courthouse

The Fontana Courthouse is a courthouse in the county of San Bernardino. This courthouse handles a huge number of cases annually that range from misdemeanors to more serious crimes. Many of the Fontana courthouse cases are handled by lawyers, though some people choose to represent themselves. Many residents of California and the United States at…

California Criminal Law | California DUI law

Courtroom Secrets Part 1 – Things Law School Doesn’t Teach You About Criminal Courts

All lawyers can agree that law school can be a grueling experience and studying for the bar can be downright painful.   Future lawyer take numerous courses on the law, legal analysis and trial advocacy.  However, there are few if any courses on what really goes on in a courtroom….especially in criminal courts.  Here are just…

California Criminal Law | California DUI law | California Traffic Tickets

Adolescent Brain Development as a Defense

Can an adolescent’s brain development or lack thereof be a defense? Three general differences between juveniles under 18 and adults demonstrate that juvenile offenders cannot reliabl be classified among the worst offenders.  First, any parent knows…juveniles lack maturity and have an underdeveolped sense of responsibility much more so than adults.  Moreover, juveniles are overrepresented statistically…

California Criminal Law | California DUI law | California Traffic Tickets

Torrance Expungements – What Employers Cannot Ask About

California Labor Code states than an employer cannot ask someone applying for a job for information about an arrest or detention that did not end up in a conviction.  So, if you are applying for a job and you happen to have a conviction arising out of the Torrance Courthouse, they cannot ask about the…

California Criminal Law

How to Represent Yourself in Torrance Criminal Court

Many Torrance criminal defendants who do not want a court-appointed lawyer choose to represent themselves in criminal court. Whether the charge is a 1st-Time DUI or Murder, criminal defendants have decided to go-it-alone by researching the law and their respective defense themselves. Some of the “Pro-Per” defendants do an o.k. job representing themselves while other…

California Criminal Law | California DUI law | California Traffic Tickets

DUI in California: Don’t Convict Yourself

Law enforcement agencies across California have been ramping up efforts to enforce drunk driving laws. As an attorney practicing in Indio, CA, I’m always amazed at the sheer number of DUI cases that come through the courthouse. Many people don’t realize how easy it is to reach a BAC of .08. Many more are unaware…

California Criminal Law | Constitutional Rights

They are Speaking In Code–What Kind of Motion or Waiver is That?

This article was original published in Crime Justice & America, Alameda County Edition, 2009. THEY ARE SPEAKING IN CODE–What Kind of Motion or Waiver is That?           By:     Andrew Dósa Do you remember getting a box of Cracker Jacks, that caramel covered popcorn with peanuts?  There was always some kind of “prize” inside.  The coolest had…