New Evidence Code section on “Creative Expression” could open floodgates on old cases.
25 Mar, 2023
Ray Hill
CASE LAW ALERT By Ray Hill Professor Emeritus, Santa Rosa Junior College Ruling and Issue Retroactivity – A 2000 murder case is remanded for retrial to reevaluate the introduction of creative expression evidence (352.2 E.C.). Peo. v. Venable (2/17/…
Be Mindful of the “Community Caretaking” Guidelines When Conducting Vehicle Inventory Searches
03 Mar, 2023
Ray Hill
From the Classroom  By Ray Hill  Professor Emeritus, Santa Rosa Junior College  Vehicle Inventory Searches and the “Community Caretaking” Function  Background  With the proliferation of “side shows” in Sonoma County, I had an “OG” officer tell me: “…
U.S. Supreme Court Gun Decision Says N.Y. Law Violated Second and Fourteenth Amendments; Is California Next?
03 Mar, 2023
Robert Phillips
The Second Amendment Right to Bear ArmsBy Robert Phillips, Deputy District Attorney (Ret). Ruling:  State statutes restricting a law-abiding adult citizens’ right to keep and bear arms by requiring a showing of “proper cause” violate the Second and…
Does a Journalist Have the Right to Withhold Information, Even in a Criminal Case?
15 Feb, 2023
Ray Hill
From the Classroom  By Ray Hill  Professor Emeritus, Santa Rosa Junior College  NEWS SHIELD PRIVILEGE AND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS      This is the fifth in a series of articles covering witness privileges in the California Evidence Code and criminal…
From the Classroom: Therapist-Patient Confidentiality and Its Exceptions; Unusual DUI Defense Works
13 Feb, 2023
Ray Hill
From the Classroom By Ray Hill Professor Emeritus, Santa Rosa Junior College THERAPIST-PATIENT PRIVILEGE AND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS This is the fourth in a series of articles covering witness privileges in the California Evidence Code and criminal…
Doctor/Patient and Clergy/Confessor Privileges and Criminal Investigations
07 Feb, 2023
Ray Hill
FROM THE CLASSROOM By: Ray Hill, Professor Emeritus, Santa Rosa Junior College Doctor/Patient and Clergy/Confessor Privileges and Criminal Investigations This is third in a series of articles covering the California Evidence Code and criminal…
Two Unusual Cases: Is Drinking Alcohol a “Device Designed to Accelerate?” And, Crime on the High Seas
27 Jan, 2023
Ray Hill
By Ray HillProfessor EmeritusSanta Rosa Junior College First, Welcome to the staff of the Cypress Police Department as our newest agency subscriber. You will receive timely, informative, and updated information on a regular basis.  You also have…
Attorney-Client Privilege: Potential Violations and Exceptions to the Rule
15 Jan, 2023
Ray Hill
FROM THE CLASSROOM“The Attorney-Client Privilege and Criminal Investigations” By Ray HillProfessor emeritus, Santa Rosa Junior College This is second in a series of articles covering the California Evidence Code and criminal investigations. Let’s…
CASE ALERT: Clarity in New Ruling on Dissuading a Victim Access to a Phone
15 Jan, 2023
Ray Hill
By Ray HillProfessor emeritus, Santa Rosa Junior College Ruling Defendant’s Act of Turning Off a Victim’s Cell Phone and Denying Her Access Supports a Conviction for Preventing or Dissuading a Victim from Reporting a Crime (136.1(b)(1) P.C.) (Peo. v…
HUSBAND/WIFE PRIVILEGES AND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
14 Dec, 2022
Ray Hill
“FROM THE CLASSROOM” By: Ray Hill, Professor Emeritus, Santa Rosa Junior College Special Attention:  Law Enforcement Officers There are no crimes, corpus delicti, or punishments in the California Evidence Code. The E.C. contains the statutory rules…