How should I plead at arraignment?
By Micah Schwartzbach, Attorney At some point in the early stages of criminal proceedings, whether at...
Motions for New Trial
Even after they've been all the way through trial, defendants can seek new trials. But judges...
Dropping a Civil Lawsuit in Exchange for Dismissal of Criminal Charges
In some cases, a criminal defendant agrees to give up a lawsuit if the prosecution drops...
Limits on Witness Immunity
An immunity grant can be a welcome development for a witness, but it isn't necessarily a...
How Judges Decide to Release You on Your Own Recognizance, or “OR”
If you promise to show up for court appearances and the judge believes you, you'll get...
Differentiating Between Domestic Violence and Abuse
"Domestic violence" and "domestic abuse" are terms used by legislators to define very similar conduct. by...
Can I claim self-defense if I hit someone first?
Even as the first person to use force, it’s possible to act in self-defense. If a...
Bay Area DUI Checkpoints (Fourth of July – 2016)
Local police will be out in full force throughout the Fourth of July holiday in search...
How much force can you use in self-defense?
By Paul Bergman Self-defense laws can vary somewhat from one state to the next, but, on...
