Crowley Law Group, APC

"Nearly 8 million Californians have criminal convictions on their records and remain hamstrung by poor decisions of their past. Seventy-six percent of residents with even low-level criminal records have more trouble finding housing, getting employment and access to education, according to a recent report by Oakland-based criminal-justice reform nonprofit Californians for Safety and Justice, which is co-sponsoring AB1076. The limitations make people more likely to re-offend and get pulled back into the criminal justice system, the report found."

Today, March 6, 2019, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers President, Drew Findling, issued the following statement concerning the controversy at Harvard: "NACDL notes with chagrin the tenor of the student protests against Professor Ronald S. Sullivan Jr. related to his representation of Harvey Weinstein. There are few constitutionally-ordained roles in our democracy. One such role is that of the criminal defense lawyer. Indeed, the Sixth Amendment specifically pr...ovides that 'In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right . . . to have the Assistance of Counsel[.]' There are no exceptions, ever, and no lawyer should ever be criticized or condemned for taking on any criminal case. Ever. This is a fundamental tenet of this nation. To the extent that there may or may not be other issues on the Harvard campus that bear on Professor Sullivan's role at Harvard, those issues should be addressed by the Harvard community without compromising or denigrating the right to counsel." See more

Crowley Law Group now has an in-house floral designer!

Cal Supremes send these two teenagers' cases back to San Diego Superior Court for resentencing, holding that 50+ year sentences for juveniles are functionally equivalent to life sentences, violating the Eighth Amendment which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. Justice Goodwin Liu wrote for the majority.

"[DA Summer] Stephan said prosecutors might be willing to recalculate DNA evidence in the affected cases, or retest it, and may consider an appropriate remedy if they no longer believe in the integrity of the conviction. That is a lot of wiggle room, [Michael] Crowley said. I applaud them for taking the initiative, he said.The rubber will meet the road when they get a case back that is indisputable. How will they react?

Crowley Law Group attorney Michael Crowley is sorry to see Judge Danielsen go. "He was a great judge." http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com//sd-me-danielsen-retir

Crowley Law Group attorney Michael Crowley says We've gone way overboard in warehousing people.The pendulum is swinging back. Crowley said the parole board is not known for handing out early releases easily. Proposition 57 allows the parole board to take a look at whether that's appropriate, Crowley said. It’s left to the professionals to determine," adding that prison officials know whether an inmate has worked toward rehabilitation or not, and whether they deserve to ...serve out extra sentencing enhancements for prior convictions, use of a weapon or criminal gang activity. If a person is a model prisoner, it gives the board more power to say, ‘No, these enhancements are not needed,’ said Crowley. Most people in prison are not career criminals, Crowley says. I don't see Proposition 57 allowing violent people back on the streets to victimize the community. It brings rationality to the system. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com//sd-me-prop57-parole-2

Attorney Michael L. Crowley's take on police response to citizens' requests to view body worn camera footage after filing a complaint: I’m concerned about individual sergeants [trying] to dissuade someone from filing the complaint. They are in an intimidating situation as it is. They don’t know the law on it. It just has the potential for coercion. People don’t know what their rights are and don’t know if they’re being bamboozled.

"Michael Crowley, a criminal defense lawyer and member of the San Diego County Bar’s Ethics Committee, has been watching the McElfresh trial from afar. What troubles him about the case is the lack of clarity around cannabis law. 'It’s one thing to pass legislation, it’s another to implement it. That’s where attorneys come in. They need to give opinions on what the law says without fear of being prospected by a DA who thinks they know the law. An attorney needs to feel that they can freely give advice on areas that are murky in the law. Because everybody’s just trying to figure it out,' Crowley said."

This is a fantastic outcome! I am so glad that this issue was fought, and even more happy it was won!

Courts and the US Marshals can no longer have a blanket policy shackling defendants in 5-point restraints in court, because as Judge Kozinski of the 9th Cir. says, "A presumptively innocent defendant has the right to be treated with respect and dignity in a public courtroom, not like a bear on a chain." United States v. Sanchez-Gomez, --- F.3d ---, No. 13-50561 (9th Cir. 2017) (en banc)

"Last night, I was teaching my evidence students how important it is to be the enforcer of the evidence code, the de-bunker of voodoo and fake scientific evidence offered by the government and the necessity of persistence in obtaining discovery underlying any expert testimony offered. It is unfortunate the government doesn't properly police these situations and then fights to maintain tainted convictions." - Michael L. Crowley

We use a psychologist here that practices this method with good results.