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Author Archives: Louis J. Goodman
Value Of “Victorian” Education
Here’s an interesting article by Glen Kelman. I’ve found that I learned many of the skills I use for practicing law while in high school. Some things about work are just not that interesting, but doing them thousands of times builds skills. So it helps…
I Don’t Have All The Answers
Here’s a link to an interesting article: I really agree with the author. Even though I’ve been practicing criminal law (DUI, Domestic Violence, Theft, Drugs, etc.) in Alameda County for over 25 years as both a prosecutor and defense attorney, I don’t have all the…
Hayward DUI – With High Alcohol Level
I’ve been practicing criminal law and DUI law in Hayward for over twenty years. I’ve seen a lot of cases. Below I reprinted (with some minor edits) a story that I saw in the local newspaper of a Hayward DUI that caught my interest. So,…
Flight – Movie Review – Legal Issues
“Flight,” a work of fiction, documents a brilliant and talented but alcohol and drug addicted pilot, played by Denzel Washington. The pilot drinks and takes cocaine while flying an airliner with over 100 people on board. Trouble occurs in the air and he manages to…
Embezzlement – Stealing From The Inside.
Here’ a scene I hope you will not face, but maybe you will. Company security officers have invited you to a meeting at your work place in Oakland, Fremont, Hayward, Pleasanton, or some other location in Alameda County, and confronted you with some evidence of…
On Parole? Can You Bail?
A woman asked me whether she could bail her boyfriend who may or may not be on Parole. Here’s my answer: If he is off parole you should be able to bail him out. If he is still on parole there will be a “parole…
Protecting The Constitution
I’m really grateful that I’m a lawyer. Law, I suppose, is a calling. I think that I’ve always been a lawyer. Really, even when I was a little kid I was arguing, defending, and figuring out the rules at home or at school. I started…
Petty Theft Case Dispositions
I hear people say, “I was arrested for a petty theft, I did it, I just want to get this behind me. I’m going to just go in, plead guilty or no contest, pay the fine, and get probation.” What’s wrong with that? EVERYTHING. Petty…
Red Light Camera Tickets
A new case just came down from the California Court of Appeal, People v. Borzakian, cite as 2012 DJDAR 1923 (until the actual opinion is published in the advance sheets). The case holds that: “Police officer is not qualified to authenticate photographic evidence of traffic…
Not Guilty, Guilty, No Contest: What’s The Difference
I am asked this all the time, so here’s the answer: A plea of no contest is the same as a plea of guilty except that it cannot be used against the defendant in a civil case, based on the same facts, if the plea…
DMV Admin Per Se Hearing
Have you been arrested for a DUI? Did the officer give you a pink temporary license? Have you read it? Have you called DMV to schedule a hearing? These are important things. I can’t tell you how many people have been given misinformation about this.…
Occupy Oakland
I went by Frank Ogawa Plaza this morning to check on Occupy Oakland. There’s far fewer tents than were there last week and far fewer people. It’s interesting that there are any tents at all. It seemed to me that all the violence of the…
Political Candidates
Are you fed up with what you see in Washington, Sacramento, or your local community government? Join the club. Are you thinking of joining Occupy Wall Street? OK, I’m all for it. Are there people you want to vote for but you don’t live in…
More To Addiction Than Substance Abuse, Group Says
Addiction is a chronic brain disorder that should be treated like any other chronic disease, according to a new definition from the American Society of Addiction Medicine. In a public policy statement, the group emphasized that neurological mechanisms — disruptions in neurotransmission, interruptions in the…
Deferred Prosecution For Big Corporate Crooks – But Not For Petty Thieves
Here’s a really interesting story in the New York Times. It describes how federal prosecutors in multi-million dollar fraud cases against banks and Wall Street firms are allowing these cases to be resolved by deferred prosecution. What deferred prosecution means is that prosecutors clearly have…
Not All Criminal Accusations Are Valid
The sexual assault case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn is crumbling. Was there a shakedown? A conspiracy? We’re going to find out. The point is just because there’s an accusation, an arrest, a “victim” making a statement, and the police making an arrest — That does not…
Oakland Tribune – Published Letter To The Editor
Controlling drinking NOW THAT the government has appropriately mandated graphic warning labels for cigarette packaging, can we expect similar appropriate warnings on alcohol packaging? If a six-pack of beer or a bottle of liquor came with a photograph of a DUI death victim, side-by-side photos…
Petty Theft Issues – Juvenile
Someone just asked me whether he has been convicted of a crime if he was cited for petty theft as a juvenile but then received a letter saying that no court appearance would be necessary and no further action would be taken. He was concerned…
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