Long Beach Criminal Law Specialist, Attorney Matthew Kaestner

Judge has courage to dismiss murder charge in case of overdose death and backyard burial in Long Beach. https://lbpost.com//zach-kennedy-murder-charge-dismissed-b

New criminal laws in California in 2021 attack racial discrimination by prosecutors and prohibit racial profiling in jury selection. Police choke holds are outlawed. Prisons for juveniles will be phased out. Probation was shortened for misdemeanors and felonies. Parolees can now vote. For more information go to attorney Kaestner’s new page: https://www.lbcrimlaw.com/new-criminal-laws-for-2021/

New Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon promised a radical change in how his office would prosecute. On December 7, 2020 he dropped 9 new directives that delivered on that promise. His office will no longer seek the death penalty nor file prior strikes, gang, gun, injury, and other enhancements in most instances. Persons who have served more than 15 years and others will have their sentences reviewed. Juveniles will no longer be prosecuted as adults, for any crime. For more on this attack on mass incarceration, Long Beach criminal law specialist, Attorney Matthew Kaestner has a new page: https://www.lbcrimlaw.com/new-district-attorney-policies-i/

Criminal courts in Long Beach are slowly gearing up, after Covid 19 orders stopped all jury trials in criminal cases in March of 2020. The most recent orders issued for LA County on August 10, 2020, added 30 days to all criminal cases that were scheduled to start between August 14 and October 13. Although no order has yet to be issued concerning trials set to start in September, the chance of more than a token few trials starting in Long Beach or greater LA County anytime soon does not seem probable.

Since Los Angeles Courts closed completely on March 17, 2020 due to Covid-19, the criminal law Courts have partially re-opened for business. Long Beach criminal lawyer Matthew Kaestner has a new page describing the current state of LA and Orange County Courts. Read more at: https://www.lbcrimlaw.com/long-beach-criminal-law-covid-19/ Stay safe.

Be careful how you wear your Covid-19 mask. In California, under Penal Code section 185: "It shall be unlawful for any person to wear any mask, false whiskers, or any personal disguise (whether complete or partial) for the purpose of: One--Evading or escaping discovery, recognition, or identification in the commission of any public offense.... Two--Concealment, flight, or escape, when charged with, arrested for, or convicted of, any public offense." Be safe out there mask wearers.

Unanimous juries are now required in all 50 states, the United States Supreme Court ruled today, Monday, April 20, 2020. The conservative leaning Court overturned a Louisiana criminal verdict based on a 10-2 majority. Only Louisiana and Oregon, yes Oregon, still allowed criminal verdicts on less than a unanimous vote.

Strange days indeed.

COVID 19 continues to infect the judicial system in California. The Judicial Council of California today (4-6-20) released a statewide Emergency Bail Schedule that sets $0 bail for most misdemeanors and lower-level felony offenses. Bail will still be set for serious felonies, domestic violence, firearms offenses, DUI, looting and a few other offenses. Bail for all misdemeanor probation violations will also be $0. Stay safe, and for more information on criminal law, visit my website at: lbcrimlaw.com

New criminal laws in California for 2020 allow convicted felons to sit on jury duty, prohibit circus elephants, prohibit smoking at the beach, prohibit private prisons, and ban use of facial recognition technology in police body worn cameras. Long Beach criminal attorney Matthew Kaestner’s new page on new California laws can be found at: https://www.lbcrimlaw.com/new-laws-in-california-for-2020/

Gotta love California. On June 11, 2019, the Court in P. v. Raybon found that it was lawful for state prisoners to possess under an ounce of marijuana, in prison, after the recent legalization of marijuana under Proposition 64.

On March 13, 2019, the middle finger was ruled NOT to justify stopping a motorist according to the United States Court of Appeals, Sixth District in Michigan. Though not recommended, this form of "speech" was confirmed to be protected First Amendment activity, even when directed toward a law enforcement officer. For further regarding what might be "contempt of cop" go to: https://www.lbcrimlaw.com//resisting-arrestinterfering-wi/

In California search warrants, and an inventory of what was seized, are public records and can be viewed at the courthouse where the warrant was issued unless ordered sealed. For a brief summary of search warrant law in California, Long Beach criminal law specialist, attorney Matthew Kaestner has a new page on Search Warrants. Go to: https://www.lbcrimlaw.com/aop/search-warrants/

New criminal laws in California for 2019 include new limitations on the liability of accomplices in murder cases, criminalize intentionally distributing false information about an election, and eliminate of the bail system in California come October of 2019. Long Beach Criminal Law Specialist, attorney Matthew G. Kaestner has a new page that details these new laws. https://www.lbcrimlaw.com/new-laws-in-california-for-2019/