Case Name: Polanski v. Superior Court, Opinion Date: 12/21/2009 , DAR #: 17703 A California Appeals court held that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in applying the fugitive disentitlement doctrine and dismissing without prejudice Mr. Polanski's motion to...
criminal justice
Recent Case Holding: People v. Limon – Immigration Consequences
This case held that: If the trial court fails to advise a defendant of immigration consequences, the defendant may seek to withdraw his plea pursuant to Penal Code section 1016.5, subdivision (b). In 1988, appellant, a non-citizen, was convicted of felony drug...
Case Update: People v. Rios – Implied Waiver of Rights to Silence & Counsel
In People v. Rios, the California Court of Appeals held that where a defendant impliedly waived his rights to silence and counsel, subsequent admissions were admissible. In that case, Defendant Rios was arrested and placed in the back of a patrol car. He was advised...
Major Cities Moving Toward “Banning the Box” (Employment Questions Regarding Criminal History)
Some major cities across the U.S. are eliminating questions regarding criminal history from their job applications in order to prevent convicts from being shut out of the workforce. This policy has been termed “banning the box,” in reference to the box that applicants...
California Supreme Court Expands Measures to Eliminate Jury Bias
On July 24, 2008, the California Supreme Court committed to a position it has resisted for nearly twenty years by holding that evidence supporting the need for a comparative jury analysis must be considered on appeal if relied upon by the defendant, even if the issue...

