Author Archives: Jenny Brandt

SDAP sent a great memo on the recent Supreme Court decision People v. Stamps. Copied below (with permission). Also, for those who do not know what a certificate of probable cause is, it is something you request on the notice of appeal from a plea. It is necessary whenever you’re going to challenge the validityContinue reading “Undoing pleas, SB 1393 retroactivity, and Supreme Court People v. Stamps”

The AG routinely overstates the abuse of discretion standard of review. In fact, I actually write in my briefs now, as a matter of course, that they are trying to water down the standard. Yes, the standard is deferential. But, I now argue that anytime the court violates the law–such as by deciding something fallsContinue reading “it’s always an abuse of discretion”

I know we all think drug sales expert testimony is absurd. Really, drug dealers always possess cash in totally normal denominations that must indicate sales? Lame. I think a valid objection is that their opinion testimony is improper profile evidence. There are great cases on this, and I did not win this in an appealContinue reading “Objecting to drug expert testimony: inadmissible profile evidence”

I’m starting to get appeals from resentencing hearings where the trial courts declined to strike SB 1393/SB 620 enhancements on remand. Here are my tips on how to effectively argue resentencing to make a nice record for an appeal that will be exceedingly difficult to win anyway: (1) A defendant is entitled to have aContinue reading “You gotta SB 1393 or SB 620 remand…now what?!”

Sorry not sorry.

This is an ode to two law clerks from UCLA who recently helped me tremendously. When I was interviewing at the PD I remember being asked what I would do if after 25 years in I was jaded and burnt out. I said I’d asked to be transfer to supervise law clerks because I figuredContinue reading “on law clerks”

22 corgi posts to get you through your day.

My personal belief is that trial counsel should always raise claims, even that those that have no chance of success, as long as what is going on is even marginally unfair. Today’s claim I’d like to discuss is vouching via admitting evidence that a cooperating witness has promised to the tell the truth. The CaliforniaContinue reading “Cooperation agreements and Vouching”

There are a few things I learned once I switched from trials to appeals that were totally news to me. Maybe everyone knows these things. I certainly did not. So I’m going to throw them out here. And in a series of posts similar to issue not waived. Object and then object again?! This isContinue reading “say what?!”

Someone actually won a child molest count on corpus delicti today. Wait what??! The First Dist out of San Mateo in People v Ruiz A153153 said: “Minor turned 11 on January 21, 2016. In September 2016, she told Donnelly her father had first penetrated her private part with his own “[l]ike, three months” before, meaningContinue reading “corpus say what?!”