California Case Commentaries

Alameda County's Section 41 Invalidated: Expanding Political Rights for Public Employees

Date: May 29, 1964

Alameda County's Section 41 Invalidated: Expanding Political Rights for Public Employees Introduction The case of Joel Fort, M.D., Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Civil Service Commission of the County...

Establishing Limits on Warrantless Searches: Analysis of The People v. Reeves

Date: Apr 23, 1964

Establishing Limits on Warrantless Searches: Analysis of The People v. Reeves Introduction The People v. Donald Winston Reeves et al., 61 Cal.2d 268 (1964), is a landmark decision by the Supreme...

Strict Liability for Retailers in Product Defects: Vandermark v. Ford Motor Company

Date: Apr 22, 1964

Strict Liability for Retailers in Product Defects: Vandermark v. Ford Motor Company Introduction The case of Chester M. Vandermark et al. v. Ford Motor Company et al., decided by the Supreme Court of...

Establishing Boundaries for Evidence in Capital Penalty Trials: Insights from PEOPLE v. TERRY

Date: Mar 21, 1964

Establishing Boundaries for Evidence in Capital Penalty Trials: Insights from PEOPLE v. TERRY Introduction The case of The People v. Doyle Alva Terry, adjudicated by the Supreme Court of California...

Exclusion of Involuntary Statements in Criminal Proceedings: People v. Underwood

Date: Mar 12, 1964

Exclusion of Involuntary Statements in Criminal Proceedings: People v. Underwood Introduction In the landmark case The People v. O'Neal Underwood, 61 Cal.2d 113 (1964), the Supreme Court of...

People v. Ford: Enhancing Jury Instructions on Intoxication and Oral Admissions in First-Degree Murder

Date: Feb 5, 1964

People v. Ford: Enhancing Jury Instructions on Intoxication and Oral Admissions in First-Degree Murder Introduction People v. William J. Ford (60 Cal.2d 772) is a landmark decision by the Supreme...

Clarifying Corporate Attorney-Client Privilege: Insights from D.I. Chadbourne, Inc. v. Superior Court

Date: Jan 31, 1964

Clarifying Corporate Attorney-Client Privilege: Insights from D.I. Chadbourne, Inc. v. Superior Court Introduction In the landmark case of D.I. Chadbourne, Inc. v. Superior Court of the City and...

Limitations on Jury Instructions in Capital Punishment Cases: Insights from People v. Morse

Date: Jan 8, 1964

Limitations on Jury Instructions in Capital Punishment Cases: Insights from People v. Morse Introduction People v. Morse, 60 Cal.2d 631 (1964), is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of...

People v. Henderson: Upholding Defendants' Rights to Mental Defense Instructions and Strengthening Double Jeopardy Protections

Date: Nov 20, 1963

People v. Henderson: Upholding Defendants' Rights to Mental Defense Instructions and Strengthening Double Jeopardy Protections Introduction People v. Ronald Kaye Henderson, 60 Cal.2d 482 (1963),...

Reaffirming the Right to Effective Counsel and Proper Admission of Evidence in Narcotics Possession Cases: People v. Pedro Ibarra

Date: Nov 15, 1963

Reaffirming the Right to Effective Counsel and Proper Admission of Evidence in Narcotics Possession Cases: People v. Pedro Ibarra Introduction People v. Pedro Ibarra, 60 Cal.2d 460 (1963), is a...

Harmless Error and the Exclusionary Rule in Criminal Proceedings: An Analysis of People v. Parham

Date: Sep 13, 1963

Harmless Error and the Exclusionary Rule in Criminal Proceedings: An Analysis of People v. Parham (60 Cal.2d 378) Introduction People v. Alvin Maurice Parham is a seminal case adjudicated by the...

State Preemption of Municipal Labor Regulations: Analysis of Professional Fire Fighters, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles

Date: Aug 14, 1963

State Preemption of Municipal Labor Regulations: Analysis of Professional Fire Fighters, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles Introduction The case of Professional Fire Fighters, Inc., et al. v. City of Los...

Authority and Specific Performance in Real Property Transactions: Ellis v. Mihelis

Date: Aug 6, 1963

Authority and Specific Performance in Real Property Transactions: Ellis v. Mihelis Introduction Herbert E. Ellis, Jr., Plaintiff and Appellant, brought forth a legal action against Pericles Mihelis...

Affirmation of Death Penalty Judgment in People v. Lopez and Winhoven

Date: Aug 6, 1963

Affirmation of Death Penalty Judgment in The People v. Lopez and Winhoven Introduction The People v. Ernest Barragan Lopez and Willard Arthur Winhoven is a landmark judgment delivered by the Supreme...

Invalidation of Exculpatory Clauses in Public Interest Hospital Contracts: Olga Tunkl v. The Regents of the University of California

Date: Jul 10, 1963

Invalidation of Exculpatory Clauses in Public Interest Hospital Contracts Introduction The case of Olga Tunkl, as Executrix, etc., Plaintiff and Appellant, v. The Regents of the University of...

Affirmation of Speedy Trial Rights and Admissibility of Rejected Pleas in THE PEOPLE v. WILSON

Date: Jul 10, 1963

Affirmation of Speedy Trial Rights and Admissibility of Rejected Pleas in THE PEOPLE v. WILSON Introduction THE PEOPLE v. WILLIAM R. WILSON is a pivotal 1963 decision by the Supreme Court of...

Prejudicial Errors in Penalty Phase Leading to Reversal in PEOPLE v. HAMILTON

Date: Jul 10, 1963

Prejudicial Errors in Penalty Phase Leading to Reversal in PEOPLE v. HAMILTON Introduction In the landmark case of The People v. Raymond Marty Hamilton (60 Cal.2d 105, 1963), the Supreme Court of...

Affirmation of Conviction in People v. Spencer: Upholding Judicial Standards in Voir Dire and Evidence Admissibility

Date: Jul 3, 1963

Affirmation of Conviction in People v. Spencer: Upholding Judicial Standards in Voir Dire and Evidence Admissibility Introduction People v. Harold Allen Spencer (60 Cal.2d 64) is a landmark decision...

California Supreme Court Establishes Hard-Core Pornography Standard: "Tropic of Cancer" Declared Not Obscene

Date: Jul 3, 1963

California Supreme Court Establishes Hard-Core Pornography Standard: "Tropic of Cancer" Declared Not Obscene Introduction In the landmark case of Jacob Zeitlin et al. v. Roger Arnebergh, the Supreme...

Independent Corroboration Required for Accomplice Testimony: Insights from THE PEOPLE v. WALTER BOWLEY

Date: Jun 19, 1963

Independent Corroboration Required for Accomplice Testimony: Insights from THE PEOPLE v. WALTER BOWLEY Introduction THE PEOPLE v. WALTER BOWLEY is a landmark case adjudicated by the Supreme Court of...