Being arrested for a crime does not necessarily mean you will be convicted. Often we can help you get charges reduced or dismissed, and avoid jail and a criminal record.
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Being arrested for a crime does not necessarily mean you will be convicted. Often we can help you get charges reduced or dismissed, and avoid jail and a criminal record.
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DUI arrests don't always lead to convictions in court. Police officer mistakes, faulty breathalyzers and crime lab errors may get your charges reduced or dismissed. Visit our California DUI page to learn more.
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Shouse Law Group represents victims throughout the U.S. who suffered serious complications and injuries from dangerous drugs and failed medical devices.
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If you've been injured in an accident, our personal injury lawyers will fight to get you compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and even punitive damages.
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As of December 8, 2020, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office (LADA) is taking habeas corpus petitions much more seriously. If there is any evidence that a petitioner was denied his/her constitutional rights to a fair trial or sentence, LADA’s Habeas Corpus Litigation Unit (HABLIT) will investigate and possibly remedy the matter such as by pushing for a resentencing or vacating the conviction.
A writ of habeas corpus is a legal petition brought by detained or imprisoned inmates. The inmate is challenging the constitutionality of the conviction and/or sentencing conditions.
Habeas petitions are typically the final step in a criminal case once the inmate has exhausted the appeals process and any other legal remedies. Common grounds for habeas petitions include:
If a court grants a petition for habeas corpus, it may (depending on the case) order than the state modify the petitioner’s sentence or release him/her outright.
Note that petitioners that are denied habeas corpus in California can file a similar petition in federal court.
When determining whether the petitioner’s conviction was legitimate or not, LADA’s HABLIT UNIT will consider such factors as:
In short, HABLIT will be primarily concerned with the merits of the petitioner’s arguments. Even if the habeas corpus petition suffers from procedural errors – such as being filed too late – HABLIT will still investigate the case as long as there is a credible claim of factual innocence.
Many people get falsely accused and then falsely convicted. And once a defendant gets convicted, it is very hard to get the conviction overturned. Trial judges are loath to grant new trials, and appeals judges are hesitant to overturn a verdict delivered by a jury. By the time these defendants file habeas corpus petitions, the odds are stacked against them at ever receiving justice.
By recentering HABLIT’s focus on the possible merits of each case in spite of any procedural bars, LADA is trying to right any past wrongs that fell through the cracks.
Read LADA Special Directive 20-10 for the full policy.
A former Los Angeles prosecutor, attorney Neil Shouse graduated with honors from UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School (and completed additional graduate studies at MIT). He has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, Dr Phil, The Today Show and Court TV. Mr Shouse has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Criminal and Top 100 Civil Attorneys.