Why are domestic abuse laws and penalties different from state to state?
James Knox: I’d probably say because each state is its own sovereign entity. They have the ability to dictate how you’d want to both classify and punish particular crimes, again, on the criminal side and on the civil side in the family law setting. So I think that’s probably the only definite answer I could give you. I can’t speak for the other states because I’ve never practiced outside of California.
Stephen Levine, is a Board Certified Specialist in Criminal Defense — an honor achieved by only the top criminal law attorneys in California. Mr. Levine has over 40 years of experience in criminal defense and family law serving Southern California, and is a highly regarded Super Lawyer as well as AV Rated attorney.