If you’ve been spurred to action to help protect their neighbors, friends, and family members who may be targeted by the ramped up ICE raids, do your research before taking action. While social media users have a lot of “advice” for how to protect people from ICE and Border Patrol raids, much of their suggestions […]
Resisting an Executive Officer in the Performance of Their Duties
Resisting arrest is a crime under 148(a) (PC), but some people go beyond just struggling against an arresting officer and instead attempt to use threats or violence to avoid arrest. When this happens, it is a violation of California Penal Code section 69 (PC), which prohibits preventing an executive officer from the performance of their […]
What Happens if You Confess a Crime to a Therapist? Do They Have to Report It?
The US court system recognizes that some relationships deserve legal protection so the parties can be sufficiently open with one another. For example, Vista criminal defense attorney Peter M. Liss has previously written about the laws regarding: Attorney/client privilege, which ensures lawyers and clients can be open and honest with one another Spousal privilege, so […]
The Good Samaritan Bystander Law in Seinfeld
In one of the most famous season finales in television history, George, Elaine, Jerry, and Kramer are all charged under a “Good Samaritan Law” for watching someone get carjacked and failing to offer assistance. But over 25 years later, countless fans still wonder if the Latham, Massachusetts Good Samaritan law in Seinfeld even exists. […]
Your Right to a Speedy Trial in California Courts
You probably already know that the US Constitution guarantees your right to a speedy trial, but what does that actually mean? Are your rights violated if you aren’t given a trial within a week? A month? A year? Well, the answer is a little complicated as it depends on the charges and whether you are […]
The Entrapment Defense Under California Law
One of the most commonly cited legal myths is that if you ask someone if they are a police officer, they have to tell you, or it is entrapment. Not only is this untrue, but it also underscores how little the average person understands about this legal concept. Unfortunately, entrapment is a complex area of […]
When is a Crime an Infraction, Misdemeanor, or Felony?
California law defines three categories of crimes to distinguish which type of offenses are the most serious. While criminal charges may be filed as an infraction, a misdemeanor, or a felony, few people know which is worse. In terms of both the severity of the charges and the potential penalties, a felony is more serious […]
California Search and Seizure Laws
For you to be charged with a crime, police must find enough evidence to indicate your guilt. For the charges to result in a conviction, the evidence must be strong enough to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. While the California and US Constitutions protect citizens from illegal and unreasonable search and seizure, police […]
How Does Lawyer/Client Confidentiality Work?
You have probably heard of attorney/client confidentiality, but you probably don’t know what that entails unless you’re a lawyer. While communications between a lawyer and a client are considered privileged, there are exceptions where the attorney may willingly disclose this information without any repercussions. If an attorney breaks confidentiality outside of these circumstances, they risk […]
What Rights do Felons Lose in California?
Felons in California are subject to many penalties, even after they serve their time and pay off their criminal fines. The good news is that California does not restrict the constitutional rights of felons nearly as much as other states. Unfortunately, the state still does have many restrictions on what felons are not able to […]
