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San Francisco Criminal Lawyer Blog

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Failure to raise Racial Justice Act Claim in Trial Court Forfeits it on Appeal

People v. Wagstaff (Cal. Ct. App., June 12, 2025, No. H050597) 2025 WL 1662576, at *1 Summary: A jury found Wagstaff guilty of felony false imprisonment surrounding a domestic violence incident. He was sentenced to a term of 16 months in prison. Wagstaff, a Black man, contends the trial court…

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Prisoner has right to consult with his attorney at resentencing hearing

People v. Grajeda (Cal. Ct. App., June 3, 2025, No. B337664) 2025 WL 1564615, at *1 Summary: In 2012 a jury found Grajeda guilty of first degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon. The jury also found true gang and firearm allegations. The trial court found true…

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Resentencing entitles defendant to full resentencing review to consider new ameliorative laws

People v. Duenas (Cal. Ct. App., May 27, 2025, No. B335274) 2025 WL 1502018, at *1 Summary: In 2011, a jury convicted Robert Duenas of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and it found true gang, firearm, and great bodily injury enhancements. The trial court sentenced Duenas to 23 years in…

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Low Threshold to Meet the Plausible Justification Standard Under RJA Discovery

McDaniel v. Superior Court of San Mateo County (Cal. Ct. App., May 19, 2025, No. A171858) 2025 WL 1428762 Summary: McDaniel, a Black individual, alleges he was disparately charged with gang enhancements due to his race, ethnicity, or national origin in violation of the California Racial Justice Act of 2020.…

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Malice Was Not Necessarily Required by Non-Provocateur Accomplice Under the Provocative Act Murder Doctrine

People v. Antonelli (Cal., Apr. 24, 2025, No. S281599) 2025 WL 1249609, at *1 Summary: In 1991, a jury convicted Antonelli of first degree murder under the provocative act doctrine based on his role in a home invasion robbery during which one of his accomplices was killed by a victim.…

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Conviction overturned where jury could find defendant guilty of second-degree murder without finding that he acted with malice

People v. Virgen (Cal. Ct. App., Apr. 7, 2025, No. B333314) 2025 WL 1032450 Summary: Virgen was convicted of second-degree murder and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. The Court of Appeal held that: Thr trial court committed instructional error when it used two pattern jury instructions…

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