California Case Commentaries

Sentencing Authority and Certificate of Probable Cause in Negotiated Plea Agreements: People v. Shelton

Date: Jan 6, 2006

Sentencing Authority and Certificate of Probable Cause in Negotiated Plea Agreements: People v. Shelton Introduction Case: The People, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Jonathan Joseph Shelton, Defendant...

Concurrent Intent and the 'Kill Zone' Theory in Attempted Murder: Analysis of The People v. Smith

Date: Dec 30, 2005

Concurrent Intent and the 'Kill Zone' Theory in Attempted Murder: Analysis of The People v. Smith Introduction The People v. Jarmaal Laronde Smith (37 Cal.4th 733, 2005) is a landmark case...

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. v. The People: Defining the Limits of Safe Harbor in Tobacco Distribution and Federal Preemption

Date: Dec 23, 2005

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. v. The People: Defining the Limits of Safe Harbor in Tobacco Distribution and Federal Preemption Introduction In the landmark case THE PEOPLE ex rel. BILL LOCKYER, as...

Landowner Liability for Concealed Hazards: Unocal v. Kinsman Establishes New Precedent

Date: Dec 20, 2005

Landowner Liability for Concealed Hazards: Unocal v. Kinsman Establishes New Precedent 1. Introduction The landmark case of Ray Kinsman et al. v. Unocal Corporation (37 Cal.4th 659, 2005) presents a...

Affirmation of Death Sentence: Upholding Jury Selection and Victim Impact Evidence in People v. Robinson

Date: Dec 16, 2005

Affirmation of Death Sentence: Upholding Jury Selection and Victim Impact Evidence in People v. Robinson Introduction People v. James Robinson, Jr. is a significant case adjudicated by the Supreme...

Upholding Judicial Discretion: Affirming Joinder of Multiple First-Degree Murder Charges in People v. Manriquez

Date: Dec 6, 2005

Upholding Judicial Discretion: Affirming Joinder of Multiple First-Degree Murder Charges in People v. Manriquez Introduction People v. Manriquez (37 Cal.4th 547) is a landmark decision by the Supreme...

Use of Nolo Contendere Pleas in SVPA Proceedings: People v. Yartz

Date: Dec 6, 2005

Use of Nolo Contendere Pleas in SVPA Proceedings: People v. Yartz Introduction People v. Norman Yartz (37 Cal.4th 529, 2005) is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of California addressing the...

Affirming First-Degree Murder Conviction Under Torture and Felony Murder Theories: A Comprehensive Analysis of People v. Michael Lee Elliott

Date: Nov 29, 2005

Affirming First-Degree Murder Conviction Under Torture and Felony Murder Theories: A Comprehensive Analysis of People v. Michael Lee Elliott Introduction Case Citation: People v. Michael Lee Elliott,...

Preservation of Evidentiary Objections and Due Process in People v. Partida

Date: Nov 22, 2005

Preservation of Evidentiary Objections and Due Process in People v. Partida Introduction Case: The People, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Jose Partida, Defendant and Appellant. Court: Supreme Court of...

Expansion of Indemnity Coverage in Excess/Umbrella Insurance Policies for Environmental Cleanup

Date: Aug 30, 2005

Expansion of Indemnity Coverage in Excess/Umbrella Insurance Policies for Environmental Cleanup Introduction In the landmark case Powerine Oil Company, Inc. v. The Superior Court of Los Angeles...

Limitation of Indemnity to Court-Ordered Damages in Excess Liability Policies: County of San Diego v. Ace Property Casualty Insurance Company

Date: Aug 30, 2005

Limitation of Indemnity to Court-Ordered Damages in Excess Liability Policies Introduction The case County of San Diego v. Ace Property Casualty Insurance Company addresses a pivotal issue in...

Establishing Precedence in Felony-Murder Robbery: Comprehensive Analysis of People v. Maurice Lydell Harris (37 Cal.4th 310)

Date: Aug 30, 2005

Establishing Precedence in Felony-Murder Robbery: Comprehensive Analysis of People v. Maurice Lydell Harris (37 Cal.4th 310) Introduction People v. Maurice Lydell Harris is a landmark decision by the...

Enhancing Parental Rights Termination for Children with Exceptional Needs: Insights from In re Dakota H.

Date: Aug 27, 2005

Enhancing Parental Rights Termination for Children with Exceptional Needs: Insights from In re Dakota H. Introduction The case of In re Dakota H. represents a pivotal moment in California's...

Reaffirmation of Jury Selection Standards and Law of the Case Doctrine in Capital Sentencing: People v. Mario Lewis Gray

Date: Aug 26, 2005

Reaffirmation of Jury Selection Standards and Law of the Case Doctrine in Capital Sentencing: People v. Mario Lewis Gray Introduction People v. Mario Lewis Gray is a seminal judgment rendered by the...

Affirmation of Judicial Discretion in Excusing Jurors with Death Penalty Bias: People v. Schmeck

Date: Aug 26, 2005

Affirmation of Judicial Discretion in Excusing Jurors with Death Penalty Bias: People v. Schmeck Introduction The case of People v. Schmeck (37 Cal.4th 240) presents a comprehensive examination of...

Recognition of Dual Female Parenthood under the Uniform Parentage Act

Date: Aug 23, 2005

Recognition of Dual Female Parenthood under the Uniform Parentage Act Introduction The case of Elisa B. v. The Superior Court of El Dorado County (37 Cal.4th 108) marks a significant milestone in the...

Affirmation of Batson Framework and Effective Assistance of Counsel in People v. Cornwell

Date: Aug 19, 2005

Affirmation of Batson Framework and Effective Assistance of Counsel in People v. Cornwell 1. Introduction The case of The People v. Glen Cornwell, 37 Cal.4th 50 (2005), adjudicated by the Supreme...

Affirmation of Death Penalty Under Lying-in-Wait Circumstance: People v. Moon

Date: Aug 19, 2005

Affirmation of Death Penalty Under Lying-in-Wait Circumstance: People v. Moon Introduction In the landmark case of The People v. Richard Russell Moon (37 Cal.4th 1, 2005), the Supreme Court of...

Establishing Precedent in the Conviction of Dean Phillip Carter for Multiple Murders and the Death Penalty

Date: Aug 16, 2005

Establishing Precedent in the Conviction of Dean Phillip Carter for Multiple Murders and the Death Penalty Introduction In the landmark case of The People v. Dean Phillip Carter, the Supreme Court of...

Affirmation of Death Sentence: Comprehensive Admissibility of Multiple Crimes Evidence in PEOPLE v. CARTER (2005)

Date: Aug 16, 2005

Affirmation of Death Sentence: Comprehensive Admissibility of Multiple Crimes Evidence in PEOPLE v. CARTER (2005) Introduction People v. Dean Phillip Carter, 36 Cal.4th 1114 (2005), is a landmark...