California Case Commentaries

Guarding Against Unwarranted Police Detentions: Flores v. The People

Date: May 3, 2024

Guarding Against Unwarranted Police Detentions: Flores v. The People Introduction The Supreme Court of California, in the landmark case The People, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Marlon Flores,...

Discretion in Imposing Lesser Enhancements: California Supreme Court Sets New Precedent

Date: Apr 30, 2024

Discretion in Imposing Lesser Enhancements: California Supreme Court Sets New Precedent Introduction In the landmark case of People v. Weldon K. McDavid, Jr. (320 Cal. Rptr. 3d 444, 2024), the...

Conjunctive Interpretation of Penal Code section 136.1(b)(2): Shaping Future Witness Dissuasion Cases

Date: Apr 23, 2024

Conjunctive Interpretation of Penal Code section 136.1(b)(2): Shaping Future Witness Dissuasion Cases Introduction In the landmark case of The People v. Raymond Gregory Reynoza (320 Cal. Rptr. 3d...

California Supreme Court Upholds Life Without Parole Exclusion for Young Adults under Equal Protection

Date: Mar 5, 2024

California Supreme Court Upholds Life Without Parole Exclusion for Young Adults under Equal Protection Introduction In the landmark case of The People, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Tony Hardin,...

Reinterpreting 'Collective Engagement' in Gang Sentencing: The People v. Kejuan Darcell Clark

Date: Feb 23, 2024

Reinterpreting 'Collective Engagement' in Gang Sentencing: The People v. Kejuan Darcell Clark Introduction The People v. Kejuan Darcell Clark is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of California...

Modification of Revocable Trusts Under California Probate Code Section 15402

Date: Feb 9, 2024

Modification of Revocable Trusts Under California Probate Code Section 15402 Introduction Brianna McKee Haggerty v. Nancy F. Thornton et al. (318 Cal. Rptr. 3d 25) is a landmark decision by the...

California Supreme Court Upholds Implied Easement Over Residential Driveway

Date: Feb 2, 2024

California Supreme Court Upholds Implied Easement Over Residential Driveway Introduction In the landmark case of TATANA SPICAKOVA ROMERO et al. v. LI-CHUAN SHIH et al., the Supreme Court of...

People v. Helzer: Affirmation of Search Warrant Execution and Jury Selection Procedures in Capital Punishment Cases

Date: Jan 23, 2024

People v. Helzer: Affirmation of Search Warrant Execution and Jury Selection Procedures in Capital Punishment Cases Introduction People v. Glen Taylor Helzer is a significant judgment delivered by...

California Supreme Court Limits Inherent Authority to Dismiss PAGA Claims for Manageability

Date: Jan 19, 2024

California Supreme Court Limits Inherent Authority to Dismiss PAGA Claims for Manageability Introduction In the landmark case of Estrada v. Royalty Carpet Mills, Inc. (317 Cal. Rptr. 3d 219), the...

Reaffirming Legislative Flexibility: The People v. Fernando Rojas and the Integrity of Initiative Statutes

Date: Dec 19, 2023

Reaffirming Legislative Flexibility: The People v. Fernando Rojas and the Integrity of Initiative Statutes Introduction In the landmark case The People, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Fernando Rojas,...

Defining 'Substance Abuse' in Juvenile Dependency Jurisdiction: Analysis of In re N.R. v. O.R.

Date: Dec 15, 2023

Defining 'Substance Abuse' in Juvenile Dependency Jurisdiction: Analysis of In re N.R. v. O.R. Introduction In re N.R., a Person Coming Under the Juvenile Court Law. v. O.R. is a landmark decision by...

Issue Preclusion and Resentencing under Senate Bill 1437: The People v. Curiel Decision

Date: Nov 28, 2023

Issue Preclusion and Resentencing under Senate Bill 1437: The People v. Curiel Decision Introduction In the landmark case of The People v. Freddy Alfredo Curiel (15 Cal.5th 433), decided by the...

Remand for Resentencing Under Senate Bill 567: Enhancing Mitigating Circumstances in Sentencing – People v. Salazar

Date: Nov 21, 2023

Remand for Resentencing Under Senate Bill 567: Enhancing Mitigating Circumstances in Sentencing – People v. Salazar Introduction In the landmark case of People v. Norman Thomas Salazar, the Supreme...

Due Process and Timely Trial Rights in SVP Commitment Cases: Camacho v. Superior Court of Merced County

Date: Sep 1, 2023

Due Process and Timely Trial Rights in SVP Commitment Cases: Camacho v. Superior Court of Merced County Introduction This commentary delves into the landmark decision of Ciro Camacho v. The Superior...

Schuller Sets New Precedent Requiring Imperfect Self-Defense Instructions as Constitutional Error

Date: Aug 18, 2023

Schuller Sets New Precedent: Imperfect Self-Defense Instructions as Constitutional Error Introduction In the landmark case The People v. Jason Carl Schuller (15 Cal.5th 237, 2023), the Supreme Court...

Establishing the Substantial Evidence Standard for Concurrent Intent in Attempted Murder: Insights from People v. Ahmed Mumin

Date: Aug 18, 2023

Establishing the Substantial Evidence Standard for Concurrent Intent in Attempted Murder: Insights from People v. Ahmed Mumin Introduction In the landmark case of People v. Ahmed Mumin (15 Cal.5th...

Adolph v. Uber Technologies: California Supreme Court Affirms PAGA Standing for Collective Claims Amid Arbitration of Individual Claims

Date: Jul 18, 2023

Adolph v. Uber Technologies: California Supreme Court Affirms PAGA Standing for Collective Claims Amid Arbitration of Individual Claims Introduction The case of Erik Adolph v. Uber Technologies, Inc....

California Supreme Court Sets Precedent on Employer Liability for COVID-19 Transmission to Employee Households

Date: Jul 7, 2023

California Supreme Court Sets Precedent on Employer Liability for COVID-19 Transmission to Employee Households Introduction In the landmark case Corby Kuciemba et al. v. Victory Woodworks, Inc. (14...

Clarifying Implied Malice Murder and Aiding & Abetting: People v. Reyes

Date: Jun 30, 2023

Clarifying Implied Malice Murder and Aiding & Abetting: People v. Reyes Introduction The case of The People v. Andres Quinonez Reyes (14 Cal.5th 981) represents a pivotal moment in California's legal...

Retroactive Application of Probation Term Reduction Under Assembly Bill 1950: People v. Prudholme

Date: Jun 27, 2023

Retroactive Application of Probation Term Reduction Under Assembly Bill 1950: People v. Prudholme Introduction In People v. Prudholme, 14 Cal.5th 961 (2023), the Supreme Court of California addressed...