Criminal cases are based on evidence. Because the U.S. Constitution guarantees that defendants are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, the evidence presented by the prosecution must be enough to outweigh that offered by the defense. Not everything can be used as evidence though, and many rules determine the admissibility of evidence in […]
California Vehicle Code 10851 (VC): Joyriding in Vista
While everyone has heard of grand theft auto, aka GTA, (no doubt partially due to the successful video game franchise), joyriding is a much more commonly filed criminal offense in California. Prosecutors prefer to file joyriding charges, legally known as the unlawful taking or driving of a vehicle under California Vehicle Code section 10851 (VC), […]
What’s the Point of Multiple Life Sentences?
People can only live once. So what’s the point of judges sentencing people to multiple life sentences? There are actually valid reasons for this strange-sounding criminal penalty, including the real meaning of “life” imprisonment and how the judicial system works. Here’s why courts in California give multiple life sentences and why it makes sense from […]
Will Using a Private Browser Online Keep You Out of Legal Trouble?
While most people are online every day, few understand the technology necessary to enable our phones and computers to access the internet. To be fair, you don’t normally need to know how a piece of technology works to reap its benefits. However, if you search with a private browser because you’re hoping to keep your […]
Can You be Charged with Murder if There is No Body?
Many people have heard that habeas corpus translates to “bring forth the body” or something similar. As a result, they may mistakenly believe that the US Constitution requires a dead body to be discovered for the government to prosecute a murder charge. But habeas corpus, while an important legal doctrine, has nothing to do with dead […]
Why Judges or Attorneys Must Sometimes Recuse Themselves
But as the public may talk about recusal when it is discussed in major news stories, many don’t understand what the term means or its greater implications on the judicial system. Here’s why someone may recuse themselves from a case and what happens if someone who should have recused themselves didn’t. What Does Recuse Mean […]
What is Hearsay in Vista Under California Evidence Code 1200 (EC)
Pretty much any show or movie with a courtroom trial scene features the TV Trope of a lawyer objecting to something because it’s hearsay. But what is hearsay, exactly, and why can’t it be used in courts in Vista? Lawyer Peter M. Liss explains California Evidence Code section 1200 (EC), including the exceptions that allow […]
Thinking About Cooperating With the Police?
Being investigated for a crime is intimidating. Many people believe that the best way to clear their name is to cooperate with the police in every step of the investigation and answer any questions detectives may ask. Sometimes people worry they will look guilty if they invoke their right to silence, insist on contacting a […]
Is Dr. Jekyll Legally Responsible for Mr. Hyde’s Crimes?
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is one of the famous classic tales of the Victorian Era —and with good reason. It explores themes of addiction, personal responsibility, unconscious desires, the rigidity of Victorian norms, morality, and the duality of man. People have long debated whether or not Jekyll should be considered responsible for Mr. Hyde’s […]
Court-Ordered Community Service for Misdemeanors in Vista, California
If you have been charged with a low-level misdemeanor in Vista or the rest of San Diego County, you may be eligible for an incarceration alternative, which could include community service. Not everyone is eligible for these opportunities, so speak with an alternative sentencing lawyer if you hope to perform community service as part of your […]
