Recent Blog Posts
Security Camera Catches Hit and Run
One of the most powerful pieces of evidence the court can have is surveillance videos. Stationary security cameras can provide an impartial third-eye to show what happened at a crime scene. One case that hit the news is going to hinge on this evidence. The video footage in the report shows the driver striking… Read More »
Car Pinned Against Rail by Semi
Getting into an accident with a big rig is quite scary. The mass of these vehicles makes them extremely dangerous. When two get tangled up, smaller cars have little chance of surviving intact. However one family is lucky to survive after such an incident. The vehicles involved were going down a three-lane highway. One… Read More »
Proposed Bills May Impact Family Law in California
Five proposed bills may impact family law in the state of California. In an effort to keep up with the unique needs of nontraditional families, lawmakers are seeking to pass bills that will address the needs of those fighting cases that were typically not heard of even a decade ago. Here are the proposed… Read More »
Search My Computer? Not Without a Warrant Say California Citizens
It is not unusual for law abiding citizens to willingly give the police anything they ask for. From information to belongings, people believe that they are obligated to give the police what they have. If you live in California, think for a moment before you automatically comply; especially when it comes to your computer…. Read More »
Task Force Cracking Down on Gang Activity
The rivalry between the Crips and the Bloods has been going on for what seems like an eternity. The police recently formed a specialized gang task force specifically to address the problem. There have so far been 33 arrests made, and more are expected to be on the way. “This effort was absolutely necessary. … Read More »
Do Not Hide Information from Your Attorney
You have been arrested for a crime. You have information that could point to your guilt, and you choose to hide this information from your criminal defense attorney. Should you? In almost all cases, the answer to that question is “no.” In California, you are protected by attorney-client privilege. California Evidence Code 954 states… Read More »
Cell Phone Searches? Not Without a Warrant
If a police officer asks for permission to search you cell phone, do you have to grant it? Not according to the Supreme Court. Even if you are placed under arrest, the police have no legal grounds to search your cell phone without first obtaining permission from the court. This law is effective in… Read More »
How should a victim safely try to extricate themselves from an abusive relationship?
James Knox: The most immediate thing is, of course, to call the police and then get away from the individual as quickly as possible. Law enforcement is specifically trained to deal with these types of domestic violence situations. The officers typically respond to the scene, separate the parties, assess the situation, and in most… Read More »
From what you’ve seen in your practice, why are women prone to stay in an abusive relationship and what is the tipping point for someone to request help and say, “Enough is enough?”
James Knox: I don’t know that I could say that as far as my criminal cases, and I don’t know that I have a general answer for you in the family law cases that we handle when I’m representing the victims of these cases. I think it’s specific to that individual. I don’t think… Read More »
How are professional athletes treated differently when it comes to plea bargaining?
James Knox: I don’t know that there is an answer to that. I think that plea bargaining tends to be the facts and circumstances of the case and it tends to rely heavily on both the defenses that are available to the defendant and the prosecution’s willingness to either prosecute the individual, maybe in… Read More »