California Case Commentaries

Probable Cause in Malicious Prosecution: Supreme Court of California Reaffirms Court's Exclusive Role in Determining Legal Tenability

Date: Jan 13, 1989

Probable Cause in Malicious Prosecution: Supreme Court of California Reaffirms Court's Exclusive Role in Determining Legal Tenability Introduction Sheldon Appel Company filed a malicious prosecution...

Establishing the Necessity of Judicial Inquiry into Potential Conflicts of Interest in Defense Counsel Selection: People v. William George Bonin

Date: Jan 10, 1989

Establishing the Necessity of Judicial Inquiry into Potential Conflicts of Interest in Defense Counsel Selection: People v. William George Bonin Introduction People v. William George Bonin is a...

Separate Punishment Permissible Under Penal Code Section 654 in Multi-Victim DUI Fatalities

Date: Jan 10, 1989

Separate Punishment Permissible Under Penal Code Section 654 in Multi-Victim DUI Fatalities Introduction The case of The People v. Donald Joseph McFarland, Jr. (47 Cal.3d 798) addressed a critical...

Reversing the Death Penalty Due to Improper Jury Instructions: Insights from People v. Garrison

Date: Jan 6, 1989

Reversing the Death Penalty Due to Improper Jury Instructions: Insights from People v. Garrison Introduction The case of The People v. Richard William Garrison, decided by the Supreme Court of...

Foley v. Interactive Data Corp.: Establishing Implied-in-Fact Contract Protections Without Tort Remedies in Wrongful Discharge

Date: Dec 30, 1988

Foley v. Interactive Data Corp.: Establishing Implied-in-Fact Contract Protections Without Tort Remedies in Wrongful Discharge Introduction Case: Daniel D. Foley, Plaintiff and Appellant, v....

Affirmation of Death Penalty in Felony-Murder Case: People v. Marvin Pete Walker, Jr.

Date: Dec 28, 1988

Affirmation of Death Penalty in Felony-Murder Case: People v. Marvin Pete Walker, Jr. Introduction The case of The People v. Marvin Pete Walker, Jr. (47 Cal.3d 605, 1988) presents a pivotal decision...

Inverse Condemnation and Unreasonable Conduct: Riverside County Flood Control District v. Belair

Date: Dec 23, 1988

Inverse Condemnation and Unreasonable Conduct: Riverside County Flood Control District v. Belair Introduction Riverside County Flood Control District v. Belair (47 Cal.3d 550, 1988) is a pivotal...

Establishing Precedents on Hypnotized Witness Testimony and Jury Instructions on Executive Clemency: Analysis of People v. Johnson

Date: Dec 23, 1988

Establishing Precedents on Hypnotized Witness Testimony and Jury Instructions on Executive Clemency: Analysis of People v. Johnson Introduction People v. Joe Edward Johnson (47 Cal.3d 576, 1988) is a...

CEQA Compliance Reinforced: Mandatory Inclusion of Future Uses and Alternatives in Environmental Impact Reports

Date: Dec 2, 1988

CEQA Compliance Reinforced: Mandatory Inclusion of Future Uses and Alternatives in Environmental Impact Reports Introduction The case of Laurel Heights Improvement Association of San Francisco, Inc....

Comprehensive Commentary on People v. Hernandez: Implications for Felony Murder and Jury Sequestration

Date: Nov 29, 1988

Comprehensive Commentary on People v. Hernandez: Implications for Felony Murder and Jury Sequestration Introduction The People v. Francis Gerard Hernandez, 47 Cal.3d 315 (1988), adjudicated by the...

Limits of Duty of Nontherapist Counselors in Suicide Prevention: Nally v. Grace Community Church of the Valley

Date: Nov 24, 1988

Limits of Duty of Nontherapist Counselors in Suicide Prevention: Nally v. Grace Community Church of the Valley Introduction The case of Walter J. Nally et al., Plaintiffs and Appellants v. Grace...

Limiting the Murder-for-Financial-Gain Special Circumstance: Insights from People v. Adcox

Date: Nov 18, 1988

Limiting the Murder-for-Financial-Gain Special Circumstance: Insights from People v. Adcox 1. Introduction Case Citation: The People, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Keith Edward Adcox, Defendant and...

California Supreme Court Establishes Religious Exemption in §270 Does Not Bar Involuntary Manslaughter and Child Endangerment Prosecutions

Date: Nov 11, 1988

California Supreme Court Establishes Religious Exemption in §270 Does Not Bar Involuntary Manslaughter and Child Endangerment Prosecutions Introduction The case of Laurie Grouard Walker v. The...

Affirmation of Death Penalty in The People v. Kelvin Shelby Malone: Implications on Admissibility of Prior and Uncharged Crimes

Date: Nov 4, 1988

Affirmation of Death Penalty in The People v. Kelvin Shelby Malone: Implications on Admissibility of Prior and Uncharged Crimes Introduction The case of The People v. Kelvin Shelby Malone (47 Cal.3d...

California Supreme Court Establishes Liability for Fraudulent Religious Recruitment Practices

Date: Oct 18, 1988

California Supreme Court Establishes Liability for Fraudulent Religious Recruitment Practices Introduction In the landmark case of David Molko and Tracy Leal v. Holy Spirit Association for the...

Clarifying Multiple-Murder Special Circumstances in California Death Penalty Cases: People v. Caro

Date: Oct 7, 1988

Clarifying Multiple-Murder Special Circumstances in California Death Penalty Cases: People v. Caro Introduction The case of People v. Caro, decided by the Supreme Court of California on October 6,...

Reaffirming Voluntariness in Self-Incrimination Claims: People v. Jennings (1988)

Date: Sep 20, 1988

Reaffirming Voluntariness in Self-Incrimination Claims: People v. Jennings (1988) Introduction People v. Michael Wayne Jennings is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of California dated...

Establishing Standards for Severance and Special Circumstances in Capital Cases: People v. Bean

Date: Sep 20, 1988

Establishing Standards for Severance and Special Circumstances in Capital Cases: People v. Bean Introduction In People v. Anthony Cornell Bean (46 Cal.3d 919, 1988), the Supreme Court of California...

Ensuring Effective Counsel and Accurate Jury Instructions in Capital Cases: Insights from People v. Crandell (46 Cal.3d 833)

Date: Sep 16, 1988

Ensuring Effective Counsel and Accurate Jury Instructions in Capital Cases: Insights from People v. Crandell (46 Cal.3d 833) Introduction People v. Crandell is a landmark decision by the Supreme...

Affirmation of Death Penalty in People v. Russell Coleman: Application of Witherspoon Standard and Forensic Evidence Reliability

Date: Sep 9, 1988

Affirmation of Death Penalty in People v. Russell Coleman: Application of Witherspoon Standard and Forensic Evidence Reliability Introduction People v. Russell Coleman is a pivotal case adjudicated...