New Sheriff Candidate in San Bernardino for 2014??

Victorville- This blogger has been advised that a veteran of the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department may be announcing his intent to run for San Bernardino Sheriff. Stay tuned!!

John Coffey Has Expressed Interest in Running for the Assembly Again!

Barstow - John Coffey announced today to this blogger that he will run again for the Assembly Seat (CA-33rd AD) held currently by Tim Donnelly.

2014 San Bernardino County Sheriff Race--Could it be closer call than convention would think??

Sheriff John McMahon (San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors' appointed top cop) has had a couple of campaign kickoffs (good for him).  To this blogger , the most revealing fact to date [picked up by the Colton City News in their June 27, 2013 edition] is the fact that not only is he endorsed by District Attorney Michael Ramos, but he is using Michael Ramos' political consultant from the 2010 election (to "manage the campaign"), David Ellis of Delta Partners, LLC. Ellis is one of the best, so why would McMahon need him with the blessing of  his "created" incumbency and a low turn out election that tends to favor conservatives? Could it be that McMahon's online degree from Union Institute & University be the type of qualification people might be concerned about? Could it be that he was forced on the citizens by a Board of Supervisors (like Mitzelfelt was)? Could it be people are frustrated with the lack of answers on his involvement in the POST certification scandal?
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We live in strange times for sure and with his one announced opponent (Paul Schraeder) promising to "protect your rights in every way possible, amongst those being your Second Amendment Rights, Your Due Process Rights, Your Right to Privacy & Your Right to Life and Property" and wearing an "Oath Keeper" [www.oathkeepers.org] shirt one of the times I heard him speak (so presumably he is a member?), I for one would like to hear more and even have a couple televised debates at say the County Board of Supervisors facilities perhaps moderated by the local League of Women Voters?
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2014 San Bernardino County District Attorney Field of Candidates Developing?

Who is running for DA in 2014 in San Bernardino County? Well Ramos has announced he will, a former litigant (Grover Merritt)against the County DA for wrongful discharge (reinstatated & $300,000 wealthier) is rumored to be running (per sources within the Los Angeles Daily Journal) and Frank Guzman who apparently claims he was targeted by people close or friendly to Ramos prior to the last election cycle has said he will be running (per the San Bernardino Sentinel if he secures $350,000 to run -- its not clear if that was personal money or raised funds). With 2 kids in college Guzman may not be able to afford the paycut if he won and with the former litigant vs the DA's office (if he is still with the DA's office), one has to wonder how much he can ethically do or say by still being an employee of the DA's office campaign-wise. Interesting stuff. Too bad the turn out will be in the mid to low 20% range for a June election (which means that the race will be decided by 11-13% of registered voters). Kamala Harris is coming to Ramos' fundraiser on the 24th, not a good move with what is happening for her career hopes in this blogger's view.

Supreme Court rules Drug Companies exempt from Lawsuits

Supreme Court rules Drug Companies exempt from Lawsuits -
You don't have to be a power abusing prosecutor to be immune to prosecution anymore. Pushing dangerous drugs is ok if you have "Inc" after your name? It would be an interesting case to see a prosecutor exercise the police power of the State by filing criminal charges for poisoning, battery, etc for such drug side effect victims!

Ambiguity in the Indictment...hmm I think I know of a County DA that allows that...

In 2005, a jury convicted Robles and Garrido [and sentenced to them to 10 years and 51 month prison terms, respectively] based on an indictment that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal said [in their review of the convictions] was "ambiguous at best."
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The 9th Circuit stated: "After reviewing the trial record as a whole, we conclude that there is a reasonable probability that the jury convicted Robles and Garrido of honest services fraud based on their failure to disclose a conflict of interest," the panel wrote. "Because of the emphasis on the conflict of interest theory in the jury instructions and in the closing arguments, we find that the error affected the Appellants' substantial rights."
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While "there is evidence in the record that could support a bribery or kickback conviction," the panel wrote, " nevertheless, it is impossible to conclude that the jury convicted Robles and Garrido based on their participation in either a bribery or a kickback scheme instead of based on Skilling's unconstitutional failure to disclose a conflict of interest."
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The 9th Circuit panel reversed honest-services mail & wire fraud convictions on 21 counts against Robles and five counts against Garrido, while acquitting Robles of two counts and Garrido of one count because prosecutors, post-Skilling, admitted they had insufficient evidence.
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In addition, 9th Circuit panel reversed four money-laundering counts against Robles because they "are predicated on the flawed honest services fraud convictions," while upholding five of Robles' bribery counts.
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In any county where vague and ambiguous indictments are seen all to often, this case should send a warning.

Barstow, Big Bear, Needles & Joshua Tree Courts Likely to Still Suffer after Trial Court Funding Act's Latest Workgroup Report

 Trial Court Funding Act,'s workgroup's 250-page report pointed out that equality in trial court funding is still "in need of improvement," opening the door for a new plan to be considered directing how money is divvied up by the courts. "The workgroup finds that funding has not been allocated based on workload fluctuations or in a manner designed to promote equal access to the courts statewide, implementation of statewide policies, or implementation of efficiencies and cost-saving measures to support access to justice," the report said. The Judicial Council should "adopt a new methodology for allocating funding appropriated for support of trial court operations, to be implemented" in July, the group said.
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A committee, led by Sacramento County Superior Court Presiding Judge Laurie Earl, has a deadline to submit a proposal to the Judicial Council [at its meeting in San Francisco on April 25 to 26]. It is hoped that the Inland Empire courts in San Bernardino and Riverside are expected to be the biggest winner in any funding shift, but with that said. workload, not historical factors will be a major driver, so smaller county areas like Barstow, Joshua Tree, the Mountain areas & Needles and are likely to still suffer.
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