In California, defendants convicted of a crime and sentenced to a determinate term in the state prison are generally required to serve their entire sentence imposed by the court except for a reduction in the time served as a result of their performance in work, training or education programs organized “California Allows Prison Inmates to Earn Work Time Credits While Incarcerated”
Supreme Court Allows Execution of a Mexican Citizen in Texas
Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court refused to stay the execution of a Mexican citizen, Humberto Leal Garcia, who was convicted of the 1994 rape and murder in Texas, despite requests from his defense attorneys and the United States and Mexican governments to postpone the execution. A few hours later, “Supreme Court Allows Execution of a Mexican Citizen in Texas”
Trial for Michael Jackson’s Doctor Conrad Murray Delayed until September
A Los Angeles judge delayed the trial of Michael Jackson’s doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, at the request of his defense attorneys who sought additional time to prepare for cross-examination of new prosecution witnesses. The parties are now scheduled to resume jury selection on September 8, 2011. Last week when the “Trial for Michael Jackson’s Doctor Conrad Murray Delayed until September”
Life Imprisonment without Parole is illegal in Non-Murder Juvenile Matters
The United States Supreme Court in a deeply divided opinion reversed a conviction of a 16-year old minor who was sentenced to life without parole (LWOP) for a non-homicide Florida offense of home invasion robbery. In Graham v. Florida, the court held that a sentence of LWOP for any juvenile “Life Imprisonment without Parole is illegal in Non-Murder Juvenile Matters”
D.A. Boycotts San Diego Criminal Trial Judge
Local attorneys and judges are mystified as to why San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis ordered her prosecutors to file peremptory challenges in all criminal cases assigned to the Honorable Judge John S. Einhorn. Judge Einhorn is known as a tough, smart judge who routinely handles complex, high-profile criminal matters. “D.A. Boycotts San Diego Criminal Trial Judge”
DA Cannot Hide a Bad Expert Witness Behind a Better One
In a recent decision handed down from a California Court of Appeals, the Court affirmed a criminal defendant’s Constitutional right to confront an expert witness who has prepared a report relied upon by another prosecution witness. In People v. Dungo, the DA tried at a jury trial to swap a bad “DA Cannot Hide a Bad Expert Witness Behind a Better One”
Michael Jackson’s Death Ruled a Homicide: Murder Charges Possible?
Now that the Los Angeles Coroner has ruled Michael Jackson’s death a homicide, what charges will be contemplated by the Office of the District Attorney? Two charges are possible. A second degree murder charge is possible if it can be proved that injecting Jackson with the powerful anesthetic propofol was “Michael Jackson’s Death Ruled a Homicide: Murder Charges Possible?”
Sneaking past the Attorney to get the Defendant: Montejo v. Louisiana
Criminal defense lawyers uniformly advise their clients to provide information to law enforcement only by and through an attorney, and for good reason. Many cases are prosecutable only because the defendant gave the police what they needed to make their case. In the past, attorneys did not have to worry “Sneaking past the Attorney to get the Defendant: Montejo v. Louisiana”