California Case Commentaries

Section 300(b)(1) Dependency Jurisdiction Clarified: No Parental Fault Required

Date: Jul 21, 2017

Section 300(b)(1) Dependency Jurisdiction Clarified: No Parental Fault Required Introduction In the case of In re R.T., the Supreme Court of California addressed a pivotal issue concerning the...

The People v. Kiongozi Jones: Affirmation of Conviction and Death Sentence in a Complex Gang-related Murder Case

Date: Jul 21, 2017

The People v. Kiongozi Jones: Affirmation of Conviction and Death Sentence in a Complex Gang-related Murder Case Introduction The People v. Kiongozi Jones is a significant judgment by the Supreme...

Broadening Discovery Scope in PAGA Actions: Williams v. Superior Court

Date: Jul 14, 2017

Broadening Discovery Scope in PAGA Actions: Williams v. Superior Court Introduction In Michael Williams v. The Superior Court of Los Angeles County, 3 Cal.5th 531 (2017), the Supreme Court of...

Narrow Interpretation of 'Unreasonable Risk' in Proposition 47 Does Not Amend the Three Strikes Reform Act

Date: Jul 4, 2017

Narrow Interpretation of 'Unreasonable Risk' in Proposition 47 Does Not Amend the Three Strikes Reform Act Introduction The California Supreme Court case The People, Plaintiff and Respondent, v....

Affirmation of Jury Waiver Standards in Capital Cases: People v. Sivongxxay

Date: Jun 20, 2017

Affirmation of Jury Waiver Standards in Capital Cases: People v. Sivongxxay Introduction People v. Vaene Sivongxxay is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of California that delves into the...

Supreme Court of California Affirms Limits on Implied Dedication of Private Noncoastal Roadways under Civil Code §1009(b)

Date: Jun 16, 2017

Supreme Court of California Affirms Limits on Implied Dedication of Private Noncoastal Roadways under Civil Code §1009(b) Introduction The case of Jaime A. Scher et al. v. John F. Burke et al....

Clarifying 'Verbal Statements' under Penal Code Section 422: Exclusion of Nonverbal Conduct in Criminal Threats

Date: Jun 2, 2017

Clarifying 'Verbal Statements' under Penal Code Section 422: Exclusion of Nonverbal Conduct in Criminal Threats Introduction In the landmark case The People v. Mario Alberto Gonzalez, 2 Cal.5th 1138...

Clarifying Batson/Wheeler Standards in Jury Selection: People v. Gutierrez, Ramos, & Enriquez

Date: Jun 2, 2017

Clarifying Batson/Wheeler Standards in Jury Selection: People v. Gutierrez, Ramos, & Enriquez Introduction People v. Gutierrez, Ramos, & Enriquez (2 Cal.5th 1150, 2017) is a landmark decision by the...

Weekly Day of Rest Guarantee Under California Labor Law: Mendoza v. Nordstrom

Date: May 9, 2017

Weekly Day of Rest Guarantee Under California Labor Law: Mendoza v. Nordstrom Introduction In the landmark case of Christopher Mendoza, Plaintiff and Appellant, v. Nordstrom, Inc., Defendant and...

Park v. Board of Trustees: Defining the Boundaries of Anti-SLAPP in Employment Discrimination Cases

Date: May 5, 2017

Park v. Board of Trustees: Defining the Boundaries of Anti-SLAPP in Employment Discrimination Cases Introduction Sungho Park, a Korean national and tenure-track assistant professor at California...

Section 1170(d)(2) Insufficient to Address Miller Error in Juvenile Sentences

Date: Apr 25, 2017

Section 1170(d)(2) Insufficient to Address Miller Error in Juvenile Sentences Introduction In In re Kristopher Kirchner on Habeas Corpus (2 Cal.5th 1040, 2017), the Supreme Court of California...

California Supreme Court Invalidates Arbitration Waiver of Public Injunctive Relief in McGill v. Citibank

Date: Apr 7, 2017

California Supreme Court Invalidates Arbitration Waiver of Public Injunctive Relief in McGill v. Citibank Introduction McGill v. Citibank, N.A. (2 Cal.5th 945) is a landmark decision by the Supreme...

Banning Ranch Conservancy v. City of Newport Beach: Integrating CEQA with Coastal Act Requirements

Date: Mar 31, 2017

Banning Ranch Conservancy v. City of Newport Beach: Integrating CEQA with Coastal Act Requirements Introduction The Supreme Court of California, in the landmark case Banning Ranch Conservancy v. City...

Impact of Proposition 47 on Theft of Access Card Information: Analysis of People v. Romanowski

Date: Mar 28, 2017

Impact of Proposition 47 on Theft of Access Card Information: Analysis of People v. Romanowski Introduction People v. Daniel Romanowski is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of California,...

Revisiting Withdrawals of Guilty Pleas: The People v. Patterson Decision

Date: Mar 28, 2017

Revisiting Withdrawals of Guilty Pleas: The People v. Patterson Decision Introduction The People v. Ron Douglas Patterson, 2 Cal.5th 885 (2017) is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of...

Interpretation of Shoplifting Under Proposition 47: The PEOPLE v. Gio

Date: Mar 24, 2017

Interpretation of Shoplifting Under Proposition 47: The PEOPLE v. Gio Introduction The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Giovanni Gonzales (2 Cal.5th 858) is a pivotal case decided by the Supreme...

Comprehensive Review of Felony-Murder Special Circumstances and Jury Instructions: The PEOPLE v. Donald Lewis Brooks

Date: Mar 21, 2017

Comprehensive Review of Felony-Murder Special Circumstances and Jury Instructions: The PEOPLE v. Donald Lewis Brooks Introduction The case of The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Donald Lewis...

Revisiting Harmless Error in Jury Instructions: Insights from People v. Merritt

Date: Mar 21, 2017

Revisiting Harmless Error in Jury Instructions: Insights from People v. Merritt Introduction People v. Andre Merritt (2 Cal.5th 819, 2017) presents a pivotal analysis of the appellate standard...

Implicit Mens Rea in Probation Conditions: Analysis of People v. Hall

Date: Feb 10, 2017

Implicit Mens Rea in Probation Conditions: Analysis of People v. Hall Introduction The case of The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. LaQuincy HALL, Defendant and Appellant (2 Cal.5th 494)...

The PEOPLE v. Winbush: Affirmation of Capital Conviction and Implications for Jury Selection Practices

Date: Jan 27, 2017

The PEOPLE v. Winbush: Affirmation of Capital Conviction and Implications for Jury Selection Practices Introduction The PEOPLE v. Grayland Winbush (2 Cal.5th 402) is a landmark decision by the...

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