George Gascón’s “Special Directives” as they relate to the pleading and proving of sentencing enhancements and allegations are illegal and unenforceable.
By Robert Phillips, Deputy District Attorney (Ret).
LA DA George Gascón and the Demise of his “Special Directives:”
George Gascón’s “Special Directives” as they relate to the pleading and proving of sentencing enhancements and allegations are…
Drug Dealers and Their Constitutional Rights
It’s not much of a secret that the City of San Francisco has over the years developed some serious social issues, what with open drug dealing and general homelessness plaguing certain areas of the city. I won’t get into the politics of those…
The “Stalking Horse” Theory for Parole and Probation Fourth Waiver Searches
The “Stalking Horse” Theory for Parole and Probation Fourth Waiver Searches.
By Robert Phillips, Deputy District Attorney (Ret).
Have you ever heard of the “stalking horse” theory, as it relates to parole and probation Fourth waiver…
Defamation Civil Suits Brought by Law Enforcement Officers
Defamation Civil Suits Brought by Law Enforcement Officers.
A false accusation against a police officer alleging the unlawful use of deadly force may be grounds for a civil suit against the officer’s accuser.
In this era of heightened public…
Community Caretaking, Probable Cause, and Marijuana Vehicle Searches:
Impounding Vehicles, the Community Caretaking Doctrine, and Probable Cause Marijuana Vehicle Searches: In an unpublished decision (Blakes v. Superior Court (Nov. 24, 2021) 2021 Cal.App. Unpub. LEXIS 7403), California’s Third District Court of…
The Dream Keeper Fellowship Program
Paying Bad People to Be Good: Okay, I’ve heard it all now. In the September 6, 2021, edition of Newsweek Magazine, there is an article that touts a new program initiated by an organization in San Francisco called “The Dream Keeper Fellowship (the…
The “Weaponing” of Social Media by Law Enforcement
The “Weaponing” of Social Media by Law Enforcement: It is well established that a private citizen has a First Amendment right to videotape public officials, including, but not limited to, police officers while performing their duties in any public…
Profanity and the First Amendment
Editorial by Robert Phillips, Deputy District Attorney (Retired)
Profanity and the First Amendment: Some of us were brought up in an atmosphere where the use of profanity was severely frowned upon, some believing that its use merely reflects a lack…
Sentencing Minors to Life Without the Possibility of Parole
I don’t typically brief sentencing cases, and I’m not an expert by any means on juvenile law, so I’m kind of speaking out of school here. But for those of you who have to deal with those little buggers, I thought you might be interested in the U.S…
A Public Service Announcement for Kern County Criminals
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Legal Updates Publishing Company or Author Robert C. Phillips.
A Public Service Announcement…
