Criminal Law

Join us for an evening of connection and collaboration at our upcoming Mixer! Read more

The 2025 Trial Skills Update is a one-day, in-person program designed to sharpen core courtroom skills and elevate trial practice for litigators at all levels. Read more

In a case of first impression, California's Second District Court of Appeal in People v. Hinojos (2025; No. B325167) recently held that when a trial court sustains an objection to a peremptory challenge under Code of Civil Procedure section 231.7, the appeals court will review the ruling de novo, and defer to the trial court’s factual findings if they are supported by substantial evidence.  Read more

The harm caused by hate crimes has long been recognized in California. A new bill effective this year adds further protections to California's hate crime statute, including expanded protections for reproductive health care facilities. Read more

Join us for an informative MCLE program that aims to equip both the defense and prosecution with the knowledge and tools to effectively navigate military diversion pursuant to Penal Code section 1001.80.  The program will discuss the legal framework of Penal Code section 1001.80, including eligibility, suitability, and the diversion process. Read more

The right to trial by jury provides a body of impartial community members to evaluate the evidence and decide questions of fact in a criminal prosecution. It is a constitutional right guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment (and the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment) that 12 jurors sit in any case where the penalty exceeds six months of incarceration. Similarly, Article 1, Section 16 of the California Constitution requires that a criminal jury in a felony case consist of 12 jurors, and that a jury in a misdemeanor criminal case or civil case consist of twelve jurors or a "lesser number agreed upon by the parties in open court." Read more

Two recent appellate opinions show that California courts are beginning to explore the scope of the state's Racial Justice Act, a law that took effect in 2021 aiming to help eliminate the influence of racial discrimination in criminal convictions. The very different outcomes in the two cases show that bringing a successful claim under the RJA is straightforward in some cases, but far more complex in others. Read more

Experienced criminal defense attorney Jeff Aaron returns with another California evidence seminar in his popular series. This lecture will cover hearsay in the California Evidence Code and case law, including the rules admitting or excluding hearsay, and the application of those rules to various trial scenarios and kinds of evidence. Read more

Join us for an engaging and informative MCLE program that aims to equip legal professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively navigate mental health diversion in the criminal justice system with a focus on Penal Code Section 1001.36. The program will discuss the legal framework and implementation of Penal Code Section 1001.36, including eligibility criteria, the diversion process, and best practices from the perspective of all stakeholders in the process. Read more

This training will cover the basics of federal habeas corpus and 28 U.S.C. § 2254, including: the statute of limitations, tolling, exhaustion, procedural default, retroactivity, and merits review. Read more