California Case Commentaries

Harmless Error in Omitted Reasonable Doubt Instruction for Gang Offense Convictions

Date: Aug 28, 2012

Harmless Error in Omitted Reasonable Doubt Instruction for Gang Offense Convictions Introduction In the landmark case The People v. Anthony Aranda, Jr. (55 Cal.4th 342, 2012), the Supreme Court of...

Overruling the Common Law Release Rule: Leung v. Verdugo Hills Hospital

Date: Aug 24, 2012

Overruling the Common Law Release Rule: Leung v. Verdugo Hills Hospital Introduction Leung v. Verdugo Hills Hospital (55 Cal.4th 291, 2012) is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of California...

Life Without Parole for Juvenile Nonhomicide Offenders Constitutes Cruel and Unusual Punishment: In re Rodrigo Caballero

Date: Aug 17, 2012

Life Without Parole for Juvenile Nonhomicide Offenders Constitutes Cruel and Unusual Punishment: In re Rodrigo Caballero Introduction In the landmark case of The People v. Rodrigo Caballero, decided...

Pinnacle Arbitration Enforceability in Common Interest Developments

Date: Aug 17, 2012

Pinnacle Arbitration Enforceability in Common Interest Developments Introduction In the landmark case of Pinnacle Museum Tower Association v. Pinnacle Market Development (US), LLC, the Supreme Court...

Binding Arbitration Agreements in Homeowners Associations: Pinnacle Museum Tower Association v. Pinnacle Market Development

Date: Aug 17, 2012

Binding Arbitration Agreements in Homeowners Associations: Pinnacle Museum Tower Association v. Pinnacle Market Development Introduction In the landmark case Pinnacle Museum Tower Association v....

Affirming Officers' Authority to Clarify Ambiguous Miranda Waivers: People v. Sauceda–Contreras

Date: Aug 14, 2012

Affirming Officers' Authority to Clarify Ambiguous Miranda Waivers: People v. Jose Sauceda–Contreras Introduction People v. Jose Sauceda–Contreras (55 Cal.4th 203, 2012) is a landmark decision by the...

Protective Orders and Witness Confidentiality: Upholding Due Process in Gang-Related Death Penalty Cases

Date: Aug 10, 2012

Protective Orders and Witness Confidentiality: Upholding Due Process in Gang-Related Death Penalty Cases Introduction The case of The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Richard VALDEZ, Defendant...

Legitimate Distinction in Punishment for False Bomb and False WMD Statutes Upheld Under Equal Protection

Date: Aug 7, 2012

Legitimate Distinction in Punishment for False Bomb and False WMD Statutes Upheld Under Equal Protection Introduction In the landmark case of The People v. Barry Allen Turnage, 55 Cal.4th 62 (2012),...

Clarifying the Limits of Character Evidence in Capital Sentencing: People v. Gonzales

Date: Aug 3, 2012

Clarifying the Limits of Character Evidence in Capital Sentencing: People v. Gonzales Introduction In The People, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Gonzales (54 Cal.4th 1234), the Supreme Court of...

Affirmation of Death Sentence and Modification of Carjacking Sentence in PEOPLE v. McKINZIE

Date: Aug 3, 2012

Affirmation of Death Sentence and Modification of Carjacking Sentence in PEOPLE v. McKINZIE Introduction In the landmark case of People v. Kenneth McKinzie (54 Cal.4th 1302, 2012), the Supreme Court...

Affirmed: Waiver of Jury Trial Rights in Section 6500 Civil Commitment Proceedings

Date: Jul 31, 2012

Affirmed: Waiver of Jury Trial Rights in Section 6500 Civil Commitment Proceedings Introduction In The People v. Christine Barrett (54 Cal.4th 1081, 2012), the Supreme Court of California addressed...

The Role of Suppression Motions and Forensic Evidence in Affirming Death Penalty Conviction: People v. Richard Christopher Tully

Date: Jul 31, 2012

The Role of Suppression Motions and Forensic Evidence in Affirming Death Penalty Conviction: People v. Richard Christopher Tully Introduction In People v. Richard Christopher Tully, 54 Cal.4th 952...

California Supreme Court Expands Evidence Code §1108 to Include Charged Sexual Offenses as Propensity Evidence – People v. Villatoro

Date: Jul 31, 2012

California Supreme Court Expands Evidence Code §1108 to Include Charged Sexual Offenses as Propensity Evidence – People v. Villatoro Introduction In the landmark case of The People v. Juan Jose...

Supreme Court of California Upholds Capital Murder Conviction in Keith Tyson Thomas Case

Date: Jul 24, 2012

Supreme Court of California Upholds Capital Murder Conviction in Keith Tyson Thomas Case Introduction The case of The PEOPLE v. Keith Tyson Thomas (54 Cal.4th 908) presents a pivotal decision by the...

Judicial Discretion Limited: Courts Cannot Overrule Statutory Disqualifications for Conduct Credits

Date: Jul 20, 2012

Judicial Discretion Limited: Courts Cannot Overrule Statutory Disqualifications for Conduct Credits Introduction Case: The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Ricardo Antonio LARA, Defendant and...

Enhanced Liability for Aiders and Abettors in Robbery-Related Crimes: Insights from People v. Favor

Date: Jul 17, 2012

Enhanced Liability for Aiders and Abettors in Robbery-Related Crimes: Insights from People v. Favor Introduction People v. Brandon Alexander Favor is a pivotal case decided by the Supreme Court of...

The People v. Riccardi: Establishing Rigorous Standards in Jury Selection for Death Penalty Cases

Date: Jul 17, 2012

The People v. Riccardi: Establishing Rigorous Standards in Jury Selection for Death Penalty Cases Introduction The People v. John Alexander Riccardi (54 Cal.4th 758, 2012) represents a pivotal...

Supreme Court Limits Restitution to Pre-Death Losses of Deceased Crime Victims

Date: Jul 17, 2012

Supreme Court Limits Restitution to Pre-Death Losses of Deceased Crime Victims Introduction In the landmark case of The PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Paul Dean RUNYAN, Defendant and Appellant,...

People v. Lightsey: Mandating Legal Representation During Competency Hearings for Self-Representing Defendants

Date: Jul 10, 2012

People v. Lightsey: Mandating Legal Representation During Competency Hearings for Self-Representing Defendants Introduction In People v. Christopher Charles Lightsey, the Supreme Court of California...

Negligent Care and Juvenile Dependency: Insights from In re ETHAN C. et al.

Date: Jul 6, 2012

Negligent Care and Juvenile Dependency: Insights from In re ETHAN C. et al. Introduction The Supreme Court of California's decision in In re ETHAN C. et al. (54 Cal.4th 610) represents a pivotal...