In recent years, the SEC has stepped up its enforcement of securities violations, issuing hefty penalties for companies and individuals that violate its rules. Some of these penalties can be quite severe, preventing violators from doing business with the government or...
When police officers arrest you and then prosecutors arraign you on allegations of a criminal offense, you need to plan a defense if you want to be those charges in court. Prosecutors generally do not pursue cases without adequate evidence, so they likely have some...
If you’ve been accused of a crime and know you’re innocent, you might be tempted to agree to a lie detector test, also known as a polygraph. A law enforcement officer may ask you to take the test. You may wish to prove your innocence by submitting to one, but it is...
Even if you suspect or know that you or your business is under criminal investigation, it can still be a shock when law enforcement officers show up at your door with a search warrant. As we’ve seen in many high-profile cases, these searches are often carried out...
In California, allegations of domestic violence are taken extremely seriously. If you are charged with domestic violence, knowing the potential defenses for your case is important. Having a strong defense is essential to protect your freedom and reputation. Every...
People who are being interrogated by police officers have very specific rights if they’re in police custody. These rights include not having to speak to the officers and being able to consult with an attorney. The police officer has to read you your Miranda rights to...
The success of a prosecutor's career depends largely on their conviction rate. They need to secure election and then re-election, which can be difficult to do without having data to confirm their job performance. The more times a prosecutor brings charges and then...
Eyewitnesses play a valuable role in prosecuting people for crimes. Yet, they sometimes get things wrong, leading to innocent people being imprisoned. To the police and prosecution, it seems simple: Mr. X says they saw you at the scene of the crime at the time it took...
While it is common in California to see everyone from the CEO to the employees wearing jeans and a hoodie, even Mark Zuckerberg wears a suit when he goes to court. No rule dictates that you must dress or wear your hair a certain way when going to court. Yet the...
Extortion is the unlawful act of obtaining property (whether money, items, or favors) through threats or force. Since it can victimize ordinary U.S. citizens as well as public officials, most states take an aggressive stance against extortion. In California and other...
