Defense Requests Felony be Reduced to Misdemeanor Because Client was in Wheelchair; Judge Declines Motion
By Sydney Kaplan SAN LEANDRO, CA – Public Defender Madelina Zepida argued here in an Alameda…
Judge Releases Mentally Incompetent Defendant after Case ‘Terms’ Out without Trial
By Beth Miller FRESNO, CA – Judge Carlos Cabrera here in Fresno County Superior Court this week…
Not a Crime Spree, but Defendant Will Do Time in Jail for Multiple Minor Offenses, Including False ID
By Natasha Pawar and Natalia Claburn WOODLAND, CA – A man was accused of pretending to be…
Defendant Dodges Traffic Stop, but Later Charged on Gun and Drug Counts
By Jacqueline Rodriguez SACRAMENTO, CA – Eric B. Murphy allegedly dodged a traffic stop, but when police…
Boyfriend Refuses Plea Deal, Faces Trial for Allegedly Hitting Longtime Girlfriend in Face
By Neha Malhi, Julietta Bisharyan and Alan Vargas SACRAMENTO, CA — After receiving an offer from the…
Defendant’s Plea for 2nd Chance Denied, Judge Orders Defendant to Go Back to Jail
By Priana Aquino, Sam Zou and Annette Wong-Toi SACRAMENTO, CA – Defendant Telsae Colleado appeared in Sacramento…
Sacramento Judge Denies Diversion for Misdemeanor DUI Cases Despite New State Law
By David M. Greenwald SACRAMENTO, CA – Under state law that took effect in January, the state…
Court Debates Definition of ‘Assault Firearm’ – Judge Eventually Rules Defendant Should Go to Trial, but Dismisses Other Felony
By Ankita Joshi SACRAMENTO, CA – The defense and prosecution had a heated deliberation here in Sacramento…
Dade Police Switch to Citations Rather than Arrests For Misdemeanors
One of America’s largest police forces says it’s drastically reducing the number of people it arrests during…
Man Found Guilty of Misdemeanor after Two Previously Hung Jury Trials And The Exclusion of A Previous Defense Witness
By Danielle Silva and Kyrah Coleman SAN FRANCISCO – A man has been found guilty of violating…
Judge Reduces Charge Down to Misdemeanor Following Preliminary Hearing
SAN FRANCISCO – Judge Rita Lin, after hearing a full preliminary hearing, following a break watched the…
Judge Reduces Charge to Misdemeanor in Vandalism Case
By Aska Smith A preliminary hearing in the case against Justin Lopez, charged with vandalism, occurred today….
Eye on the Courts: Reforms and the Changing Views on Crime and Punishment
My last two days in court, I observed a couple of interesting things that relate to recent…
Analysis: What Will the Impact of Prop. 47 Be at the Local Level?
Last week voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 47, which reduces drug and petty theft crimes to misdemeanors. On…
Judge Reduces Alleged Theft of $10.62 in Groceries to Misdemeanor
by Saghi Nojoomi Judge David Rosenberg of the Yolo County Superior Court, in a preliminary hearing, granted…