Vol. 34 No. 9 DISTRICT COURT ORDERS INJUNCTION ENJOINING SHERIFF FROM USING BAIL SCHEDULE TO DETERMINE RELEASE OF DETAINEES WHO CANNOT AFFORD BAIL
In the March 4, 2019 case of Buffin v. City & Cnty. of S.F.,[1] the California Northern District Court granted the plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment challenging the use of San Francisco’s Felony and Misdemeanor Bail Schedule (the “schedule” or “Bail Schedule”) as a basis to release pre-arraignment detainees where the detainees could not afford […]
Vol. 34 No. 15 UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT REJECTS DEATH PENALTY CHALLENGE BY INDIVIDUAL WITH RARE DISEASE
In a 5-4 opinion, the United States Supreme Court majority in Bucklew v. Precythe, 2019 U.S. LEXIS 2477 (Apr. 1, 2019), held that an inmate with a rare condition causing tumors with blood vessels to grow in his neck, head, and throat failed to satisfy the test that two prior Supreme Court cases established to […]
Vol. 34 No. 16 MARTIN V. CITY OF BOISE PETITION FOR REHEARING AND REHEARING EN BANC DENIED
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals published an order in Martin v. City of Boise which denied a petition for panel rehearing, denied a petition for rehearing en banc on behalf of the Court, and declared that no further petitions would be entertained. The Court also provided a slightly amended opinion to its earlier opinion […]
Vol. 34 No. 17 “CHALKING” THE TIRES OF PARKED VEHICLES FOUND TO BE A VIOLATION OF THE FOURTH AMENDMENT
Taylor v. City of Saginaw, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 12412 (6th Cir. Apr. 25, 2019) On April 25, 2019, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, in Taylor v. City of Saginaw, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 12412 (6th Cir. Apr. 25, 2019), held that “chalking,” the practice of parking enforcement officers marking parked vehicles with chalk […]
Vol. 34 No. 26 NINTH CIRCUIT UPHOLDS DECISION FINDING FORMER CITY MANAGER VIOLATED FORMER POLICE CHIEF’S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
In June 2019 in Greisen v. Hanken,[1] the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a District Court’s decision upholding a jury verdict in favor of a former police chief plaintiff in his First Amendment retaliation suit against a former city manager. In reaching its conclusion, the Court also determined the former city manager was not […]
Vol. 34 No. 25 POLICE DEPARTMENT MAY PROPERLY CONSIDER OFFICER’S PREPROBATIONARY CONDUCT IN RESCINDING OFFICER’S PROBATIONARY PROMOTION
In June 2019, the California Second District Court of Appeal held, in Conger v. Cty. of L.A.,[1] that a police department’s decision to deny an officer a promotion was merit based. The officer had failed to report a use of force several months before his promotion to a probationary lieutenant position. The Court further concluded […]
Vol. 34 No. 24 TITLE VII’S CHARGE-FILING REQUIREMENT IS NOT A JURISDICTIONAL PRESCRIPTION AND MUST BE TIMELY ASSERTED BY A DEFENDANT
In a unanimous decision, entitled Fort Bend Cty. v. Davis,[1] the United States Supreme Court held that a certain Title VII requirement was a mandatory claim-processing rule, not a jurisdictional prescription. Because such rules are subject to forfeiture if not timely raised and a County employer had been tardy in raising the issue, the employer’s […]
Vol. 34 No. 23 TOTALITY OF CIRCUMSTANCES DID NOT PROVIDE OFFICERS WITH THE REQUISITE REASONABLE SUSPICION OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY TO STOP DEFENDANT
In June 2019, United States v. Brown,[1] the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that the combination of an anonymous tip suggesting no crime and a defendant’s flight from officers, who did not previously communicate with the suspect, did not provide officers with a reasonable, articulable suspicion of criminal activity when they stopped and frisked […]
Vol. 34 No. 22 UNDER HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION 11362.1, POSSESSION OF LESS THAN AN OUNCE OF CANNABIS IN PRISON IS NO LONGER A CRIME
In People v. Raybon,[1] the California Third District Court of Appeal held the plain language of Health & Safety Code section 11362.1 demonstrated the electorate’s clear intent to decriminalize possession of less than ounce of marijuana, even in prison. In reaching its conclusion, the Court reversed the superior court’s rulings dismissing five inmate defendants’ petitions […]
Vol. 34 No. 21 SUPREME COURT HOLDS THAT PROBABLE CAUSE TO ARREST DEFEATS FIRST AMENDMENT RETALIATION CLAIM
On May 28, 2019, the Supreme Court of the United States, in Nieves v. Bartlett, 2019 U.S. LEXIS 3557 (May 28, 2019) held that a plaintiff’s retaliatory arrest claim must pass a threshold showing of the absence of probable cause. The Court held the presence of probable cause will defeat most claims, except where a […]