Ryan L. Smith, Attorney at Law

In California, in a criminal case, defendants have the right to request a hearing called…

Of all the concepts I explain at free initial consultations, something that comes up often is the fact that the individual, shortly after the arrest, is typically not yet charged with any crime. Most people assume…

The judge has discretion over bail, but what happens before you see the judge? How is bail determined before you go to court? Is the bail likely to increase, decrease, or stay the same when it…

In 1999, California judges came up with a new law, the “Community Caretaking Function,” rendering certain police searches and seizures permissible without a warrant. This new…