Rap lyrics have often been used against criminal defendants in trials. Lyrics can paint a picture for the jury even when the song or the use of the song obviously has nothing at all to do with the alleged crime. Often, rap lyrics can serve as almost the only evidence in the trial. There are…

Child endangerment is outlined in California Penal Code Section 273A.  “Any person who, under circumstances or conditions likely to produce great bodily harm or death, willfully causes or permits any child to suffer, or inflicts thereon unjustifiable pain or mental suffering, or having the care or custody of any child, willfully causes or permits the…

 SBI 731 has been signed into law, which means arrest records and conviction records will be sealed for at least 225,000 Californians. Many Los Angeles residents will find their records are eligible for automatic sealing, while others will have to petition a judge.  Are you eligible for records sealing? Here’s what you need to know.…

It’s natural to want your Los Angeles criminal case to resolve itself quickly. Nobody wants to be caught up with the justice system for very long. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to tell how long a case will take. Nevertheless, there are some laws, guidelines, and rules of thumb we can share. Misdemeanor Cases Many…

California has been required to clear cannabis convictions since 2018, but the process hasn’t gone quickly. A new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom may help. Under current California law, a person 21 years of age or older may possess, process, transport, purchase, obtain, or give away up to 28.5 grams of cannabis and up…

Did you know it may be possible to address a domestic violence arrest before charges are filed? That’s because there is a gap between the arrest and the filing of charges in these cases.  This gap applies in cases where you are accused of unlawfully touching or threatening an intimate domestic partner. There are times…

Do you believe that innocence will protect you if you’re charged with a crime in Los Angeles? Think again. Wrongful convictions happen. California has found over 200 of them since 1989, and those are just the major crimes convictions researchers focus on. Wrongful convictions happen for much more routine crimes, too. DUI/DWI False Positives  Cops…

A stand your ground law allows anyone who believes their life to be in danger to use lethal force in an act of self-defense, and removes the duty to retreat. California is not a stand-your-ground state. It is a “castle doctrine” state.  The castle doctrine allows you to use deadly force if someone forces their…

Police set up DUI checkpoints in Los Angeles from time to time, usually during times where they expect a high percentage of intoxicated drivers on the road.  They differ from a traffic stop in that police don’t require probable cause to stop you and check you. Instead, they just force every car to stop.  Are…

If you get drunk and throw a few punches, you could find yourself facing criminal charges. Bar fights may be a staple of television shows, but they’re a bad idea in real life. There are, in fact, a number of criminal charges that could come with a bar fight, and there’s a good chance the…