"Court Case Friday" “Drunk Driving” (DUI) cases are some of the most tragic. They are also some of the most entertaining. Field Sobriety Tests In the “old days,” reciting the alphabet was a standard field sobriety test (FST). This FST tested mental impairment. Mental impairment occurs before observable physical impairment. Years ago, the National Highway … Continue reading DUI Drivers Versus the Alphabet
"Court Case Friday" As a young D.A. I was assigned to prosecute a unique shoplifting case. A poor elderly woman walked into a grocery store and stuffed dozens of canned goods into her coat and dress. She made no effort to conceal what she was doing. The bulges in her clothing were obvious. She left the … Continue reading “How do I prosecute a food shoplifter, who is a poor Nazi death camp survivor?”
"Court Case Friday" Body Burned and Dumped by the Side of a Road In 2009, a burned body was dumped overnight in an office parking lot in Irvine. Police Sketch of Murder Victim The victim was an African-American female, in her mid-20’s. Because the lungs were smoke-free, it was clear that the body was burned … Continue reading Traffic Ticket Case DNA Solved a Cold Case Murder
"Court Case Friday" As a young D.A. I was assigned to prosecute a 15-year-old for petty theft. He stole a Christmas tree from a lot. It was very late on Christmas Eve. A young man walked into a Christmas tree lot just before closing. He looked at the few scraggly remaining trees. Suddenly, he grabbed … Continue reading Heartbreaking Case of the Christmas Tree Thief
"Court Case Friday" Motorcycle traffic officers have a reputation for strict, “no tolerance” enforcement. They also develop “thick skins” because angry drivers are constantly arguing with them. They calmly respond, “Tell it to the judge.” However, “no tolerance” sometimes means “no judgment.” “Robocop” There was a very intense Huntington Beach motor officer who was in … Continue reading Motorcycle Officers Can Be Rigid
"Court Case Friday" Experienced criminal trial lawyers learn to be very careful handling exhibits in front of a jury. A Deputy District Attorney assigned to my court had a jury trial involving “Assault with a Deadly Weapon.” The “deadly weapon” was a knife. The young, inexperienced Defense Attorney argued, throughout the trial, that the knife … Continue reading Defense Attorney cuts herself with a “non-dangerous dull” knife
"Court Case Friday" “Drunk driving” (DUI) cases are some of the most tragic. They are also some of the most entertaining. I had a unique DUI case involving an 85-year-old woman with a very high blood alcohol level. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) officer spotted her weaving in the fast lane on the I-5 Freeway … Continue reading Drunk Driver: Golf Cart on the Freeway
"Court Case Friday" Most of the time, police “catch” the “drunk drivers.”* Sometimes, the cops are minding their own business and the “drunk drivers” “catch” them. Drunk Driver Crashes into Police Donut Shop I had a case where two CHP officers were sitting by the window inside a donut shop having a coffee break. It … Continue reading 4 Drunk Drivers Who “Caught” the Police
“Court Case Friday” I presided over an interesting case of domestic violence. A military officer was desperate to have a “spiritual experience.” Instead of consulting a religious leader, he searched the internet. “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.” He discovered that some people professed to have had spiritual experiences by taking hallucinogenic drugs like … Continue reading Case of the Drug-Induced “Spiritual” Experience
"Saturday Stories" Today is April Fools' Day Our family had two white and brown pet rats. They were wonderful pets. We named them “Laverne” and “Shirley.” I am an animal lover, and Laverne and Shirley quickly found a place in my heart. Just about everyone in the courthouse thought that I was crazy to have pet rats. … Continue reading April Fools’ Joke Was on Me
The London Edition 