"Court Case Friday" I have spent my careers, as a criminal prosecutor and criminal law judge, imposing legal consequences. Frequently, the natural consequences are far worse than the legal consequences. The Law of the Harvest, "you reap what you sow," is also the Law of Consequences. One of my assignments has been to dismiss criminal … Continue reading Death Certificates: The Law of the Harvest and the Law of Consequences
"Court Case Friday" In the “old days” when I was a prosecutor, one of our former old-time Orange County judges gave a criminal a consecutive sentence for each of his dozen serious felonies. The total was over 300 years. (Such huge consecutive sentences no longer exist under California law.) When the judge imposed the … Continue reading Another harsh sentencing judge
"Court Case Friday" There are a few times during my 33-year judicial career when I violated the rule: "Think before your speak." Occasionally, I had to apologize for my comments and eat my words. Here is one such episode: One morning, a very well-dressed middle-age woman appeared in front of me during my misdemeanor arraignment … Continue reading Another Time I had to Eat My Words in Court
"Court Case Friday" YouTube Star Hotel Jumper I presided over an interesting case involving a YouTube “Star.” The young man filmed himself jumping off very high balconies or roofs of hotels into their swimming pools. Apparently, when he posted the videos on YouTube, he had so many “views” and “likes” that advertisers were eager to … Continue reading My Case of the YouTube Star Who Jumped off Hotel Balconies
I prosecuted a man for misdemeanor obstructing police. (PC 148(a)) The dumb defendant walked up to a canine police officer on the Huntington Beach pier and declared: “Your dog doesn’t scare me!” He then bent down, grabbed the police German Shepherd by both ears, went nose-to-nose with the dog, and yelled, “Growl!” The police dog … Continue reading Man Taunts Police Dog and Pays the Price
For an experienced criminal law judge, most cases are not that complex, and most decisions are not that difficult. In fact, most criminal cases are fairly routine. (Drugs, DUI, Theft) Interestingly, my hardest sentencing decision involved a misdemeanor case. California Misdemeanor Vehicular Manslaughter Cases The case was misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. The criminal defendant was a … Continue reading My Most Difficult Judicial Decision: Death of the “Miracle” Baby
“I’m the Criminal” I was in the middle of jury selection when a young man entered the courtroom. Since I had ordered all witnesses excluded during jury selection, I interrupted the proceedings, and asked, “Excuse me sir, are you a witness in this case?” He replied, “No, I’m the criminal.” The defense attorney asked me … Continue reading More of “My” Dumb Criminals
Some criminals are dumber than others. I prosecuted some of the dumbest ones. An Orange County city had a problem with drug sales in a high-density area. So, the police decided to do a surveillance using their unmarked old beat up surveillance van. Three officers drove in the van to the target location. There was the … Continue reading Dumb Criminal Tries to Steal Undercover Police Van with Cops Inside
The U.S. Police Warrior/Military Mindset The police warrior-military mindset started as a narrow concept during deadly confrontations. However, it has expanded to become the prevailing culture. Supporters of the warrior-military mindset believe it is critical to officer and public safety. However, many police professionals and criminologists believe that the warrior-military mindset actually makes officers … Continue reading Police Reform (9/10): Rethink the Warrior-Military Mindset
When criminal defendants appear in my court by themselves, I ask, “Do you have an attorney?” Most defendants request a continuance, so they can hire a lawyer, or they ask me to appoint the public defender to represent them. Occasionally, I get a defendant who stands erect and proudly proclaims, “God is my lawyer!” or … Continue reading “Jesus is My Lawyer”
The London Edition 