One of the defining character-building moments of Netflix’s Daredevil series is the complete and utter failure of Matt Murdock as a defense lawyer in the courtroom trial of Frank Castle, a.k.a. The Punisher. While Murdock and his legal partner, Foggy Nelson, always had the deck stacked against them in this case (Frank Castle is undoubtedly […]
The Pros and Cons of Eliminating Cash Bail
Like most things, cash bail has pros and cons, but when you look at the data, evidence suggests eliminating it would benefit society overall. In California, we were lucky to get a chance to see how putting an end to cash bail could work when the state instituted a zero bail policy in an effort […]
Destroying or Concealing Evidence Under California Law
It is against the law to destroy or conceal evidence, but these actions often still seem promising for those worried they may face a criminal conviction. Unfortunately, damaging or hiding evidence could result in your being charged with California Penal Code section 135 (PC). Sometimes people even end up in jail for destroying or concealing […]
Debunking the 10 Most Commonly Believed Legal Myths
Many shows, books, and movies depict the legal system, but because writers need to be concerned with conciseness and ratings, they often fall back on common misconceptions. Unfortunately, when myths spread enough, the public starts to accept them as accurate, but no matter how much people believe these ideas, it doesn’t change how the criminal […]
Can a Sex Offender Move to Another State?
Just about everyone has a basic understanding that most sex crime convictions result in mandatory registration on the sex offender registry. What you may not know is that while every state has a sex offender registry under Megan’s Law, each one has a different set of laws detailing the rights and responsibilities of those on […]
Can You be Arrested for a Confession Made at AA?
The Alcoholics Anonymous (and similar Narcotics Anonymous —NA) recovery process requires you to be open and honest about your past and to admit wrongs you made while under the influence. But is a confession made at Alcoholics Anonymous legally protected like those made to priests? The answer is complicated. Here’s what a defense attorney believes […]
Surprising Things Police Can Do Without A Warrant
The Constitution may protect you from unreasonable search and seizure, but many people have no idea how complex search warrant laws are. For example, the police cannot search your cell phone without a warrant, but they can search your car without a warrant if they have “reasonable suspicion.” In fact, they can do many things […]
Refusing to Speak to the Police is Not Obstruction of Justice
If you watch police dramas, you’ve almost certainly seen one of the cop characters threaten someone by telling them that if they don’t cooperate with an investigation, they’ll be charged with obstruction of justice. But refusing to talk to the police isn’t just your right, it’s also your best course of action when being questioned […]
What Happens to Your Dog When You Get Arrested in Vista?
Close to half of all American households have a dog, and many of those dog owners are single, so what happens to a person’s dog when they go to jail or are arrested? As it turns out, that question can be rather complex and depends on where you live, where you were arrested, and more. […]
Can a Diary be Used as Evidence? Are Diaries Admissible in Court?
Diaries and journals can be written for many reasons, but one thing most of these writers have in common is the expectation that their private thoughts and observations will be kept confidential. Unfortunately, the US legal system doesn’t hold diaries as a protected source of speech that can’t be used against their writer later on. […]
