| Case # | Name | Category | Court | Judge | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
09-10076
|
U.S. v. Hofus
Court’s instruction on attempt charge’s ‘substantial step’ element is proper and does not require unanimity as to what it specifically constituted. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 21, 2010 | |
|
G042107
|
Blakely v. Superior Court (People)
Prisoner cannot be evaluated, certified, and recommitted as mentally disordered offender after parole date passes. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 21, 2010 | |
|
C056510
|
People v. Brown
Amended Penal Code that provides enhanced conduct credits for presentence confinement applies retroactively for less-serious offenders. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 18, 2010 | |
|
08-50175
|
U.S. v. Rocha
Inmate who used hands to cause another inmate to crash onto concrete floor is wrongfully convicted of assault with dangerous weapon. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 18, 2010 | |
|
S052808
|
People v. Gamache
Based on evidence, entire district attorney’s office need not recuse itself from homicide trial where surviving victim was prosecution’s employee. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 18, 2010 | |
|
B213065
|
People v. Bankers Insurance Co.
Surety is estopped from challenging bail bond forfeiture and summary judgment although court acted outside of jurisdiction by acceding to surety's extension requests. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 17, 2010 | |
|
A124814
|
In re Moses
Governor’s reversal of prisoner’s parole grant is improperly based on circumstances of commitment offense and not supported by evidence of current dangerousness. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 16, 2010 | |
|
D053727
|
People v. Lynch
Defendant’s out-of-state residence and possibility of past arrest warrant may toll statute of limitations for variety of offenses. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 16, 2010 | |
|
A125665
|
In re Juarez
Board of Parole Hearings improperly denies parole based on rote recitation of unsuitability factors, which were not probative of current dangerousness. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 16, 2010 | |
|
B216238
|
People v. Brooks
Probation condition prohibiting use or possession of medical marijuana is valid where restriction is reasonably related to defendant’s criminal offense. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 16, 2010 | |
|
S165680
|
People v. Picklesimer
Sex offender no longer subject to mandatory sex offender registration improperly sought relief by failing to file petition for writ of mandate. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 15, 2010 | |
|
B216325
|
People v. Townsend
Possession of ‘Molotov cocktails’ qualifies as crime involving implied threat to use force or violence under Mentally Disordered Offender Act. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 15, 2010 | |
|
B195197
|
People v. Concha
Instructional error is harmless where rational jury would have found it clear that each defendant personally premeditated and deliberated attempted murder. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 14, 2010 | |
|
S060500
|
People v. D'Arcy
Court properly appoints only one mental health expert where defendant did not inform court he was seeking finding of incompetence. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 11, 2010 | |
|
06-99009
|
Stanley v. Schriro
Defendant is entitled to evidentiary hearing on ineffective counsel claim where allegations, if proved, would have entitled him to federal habeas relief. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 11, 2010 | |
|
08-15918
|
Valdovinos v. McGrath
Defendant is deprived of fair trial where undisclosed evidence as to defendant's misidentification could have altered result of first-degree murder conviction. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 10, 2010 | |
|
B215566
|
People v. Arias
Sentence enhancement for attempted first-degree murder violates defendant’s due process rights where prosecution failed to follow pleading requirements. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 10, 2010 | |
|
A123451
|
People v. Puluc-Sique
Appellate disentitlement of right to appeal based on fugitive status is not extended to appeal of defendant who is involuntarily deported. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 9, 2010 | |
|
09-10147
|
U.S. v. Cha
Seizure of residence, which lasted at least 26.5 hours, is unreasonably long and suppression of resulting evidence is warranted. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 9, 2010 | |
|
C054422
|
People v. Memory
Admission of prejudicial, gang-type evidence of defendant’s motorcycle club leads to wrongful conviction. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 8, 2010 | |
|
08-728
|
Bloate v. U.S.
Time granted to prepare pretrial motions is not automatically excluded from 70-day limit required between defendant’s indictment and trial. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 8, 2010 | |
|
S159410
|
People v. Cobb
Although court erred by delaying trial past mentally disordered offender’s commitment term and forcing him to remain committed, no relief is available. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 8, 2010 | |
|
S155481
|
People v. Lara
90-day statutory deadline for filing petition to extend commitment is directory if petition was filed before expiration of current commitment. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 8, 2010 | |
|
07-35808
|
Rhoades v. Henry
Court properly declines to expand record where defendant failed to diligently develop factual predicate for claim in state court. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 8, 2010 | |
|
C059375
|
People ex rel. Reisig v. Acuna
Preliminary gang injunction is properly granted where evidence of gang was presented based on expert’s observations and vast experiences with its members. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 8, 2010 | |
|
07-99022
|
Rhoades v. Henry
In death penalty case, counsel did not fail to investigate, develop, and present mental state defense where evidence was lacking. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 8, 2010 | |
|
07-99023
|
Rhoades v. Henry
District court properly denies defendant’s petition where state court afforded him full and fair hearing on his claims. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 8, 2010 | |
|
09-10066
|
U.S. v. Molina
Pursuant to pretrial stipulation, court properly admits hearsay statements of unavailable witnesses despite vacation of plea agreement. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 8, 2010 | |
|
G041970
|
People v. Warwick
Defendant is subject to personally inflicting great bodily injury enhancement where her actions and inaction directly caused child’s injuries. |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 7, 2010 | |
|
C062809
|
In re Lucas
Extension of prisoner’s custody and petition to commit him as sexually violent predator are valid despite incorrect finding of ‘good cause.’ |
Criminal Law and Procedure |
|
Mar. 7, 2010 |