COURT WATCH: Prosecutor Overruled, Sentence Reduced for Nonviolent Drug Felonies
By Cindy Chen SANTA CLARA, CA — Judge Robert Hawk last week, at a recent sentencing hearing…
California Lawmakers Address Racial and Economic Inequality through Reform Programs in Silicon Valley
By Maeve O’Brien SAN JOSE, CA – California State Senator Dave Cortese (D-Santa Clara) and Assemblymember Ash…
San Jose District Attorney – Once Capital Punishment Supporter – Plans to File Motion to Take Incarcerated Off Death Row
SANTA CLARA, CA – A prosecutor here in Santa Clara County—once a big believer in capital punishment…
Judges Blocks Public Access to Attempted Murder Case Involving Family Court Reunification Therapist
Editor’s note, the teen victim-witness in this story is identified as Emily Doe. The father charged with…
2024 California Judge Elections Feature Pontoon Boat Lap Dancer, Soft-on-Crime Clichés, and Social Media Queen of Chaos
By Fred Johnson, Susan Bassi and Lexi Logan In less than a month, voters in several California…
Local Bar Holiday Party Special: Free Lunch for Judges and Secret Santa Perks for Divorce Attorneys
By Susan Bassi, Fred Johnson and Luna Violetti Editor’s Note: Over 70 women have come forward following…
Local Bar Association Attorney Admits to Shredding Family Court Complaints
By Susan Bassi and Fred Johnson In the wake of a contentious two-year custody battle that left…
Community Groups Claim Victory in Battle to Stop Nearly $1 Billion Sacramento Main Jail Expansion after County Announces ‘Pause’
By Crescenzo Vellucci The Vanguard Sacramento Bureau Chief SACRAMENTO, CA – Sacramento community groups – which last…
Community Groups Cite ‘Faulty’ Architectural Reports as Reason to Cancel Nearly $1 Billion Sacramento County Jail Expansion
By Crescenzo Vellucci The Vanguard Sacramento Bureau Chief SACRAMENTO, CA – The anticipated, recently approved nearly $1…
Records Revealed: Photo Wish List for Local School Districts and Boards
By Fred Johnson and Susan Bassi Public debates, concerning school board meetings and book bans, recently prompted…
Is Your Child’s Attorney a Crook?
By Susan Bassi and Fred Johnson Valerie Houghton was facing criminal prosecution for securities fraud related to…
Public Records Revealed: Column Seeks to Educate Citizen Journalists Interested in Local Court Reporting and Government Watchdogging
By Fred Johnson and Susan Bassi The Davis Vanguard is excited to introduce “Records Revealed”, a weekly…
Power Outage Disrupts Secret Judge Club Investigation
By Susan Bassi, Lexi Logan and Fred Johnson California’s Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC), the bipartisan political…
Four Counties Chosen to Join Movement to End Girls’ Incarceration in California
By Vaiva Utaraite SACRAMENTO, CA – After a competitive process, Los Angeles, Imperial, San Diego and Sacramento…
Part Five: Tainted Trials, Tarnished Headlines, Stolen Justice
Death, Child Support and Attorney’s Fees in Silicon Valley Warning: This reporting contains traumatic events which possibly…
Partnership Launched to Eliminate Incarcerating ‘Girls,’ Gender-Expansive Youth
By Michael McCutcheon & Sunny Zhou SACRAMENTO, CA – In 2021 alone, more than 1,400 girls and…
Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie Smith Found Guilty of Corruption on All Six Counts by Jury in Impeachment Trial, Will Be Removed from Office
By The Vanguard Staff SAN FRANCISCO, CA – A jury found former Santa Clara County Sheriff Laurie…
Bay Area Church v. County, Million $$ Court Battle over COVID Penalties Heads to CA Supreme Court
By The Vanguard Staff SAN JOSE, CA – Santa Clara County apparently won’t let a scofflaw church…
Lawsuit Filed in Death of Victim of Deadly VTA Mass Shooting in Santa Clara in 2021
By The Vanguard Staff SAN JOSE, CA – On what is the first anniversary of the deadliest…
Report Finds Courts in Bay Area Are Ignoring Humphrey Bail Ruling
By David M. Greenwald Executive Editor San Jose, CA – A report last week from the Silicon…
