Criminal Law

When Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley announced three months ago that his office was wrapping up its investigation into the Rampart police corruption scandal, he made a point of informing the public that a key figure in the case -- former Officer Nino Durden -- implicated only himself and his partner, Rafael Perez, in any wrongdoing.

Atty. Gen. John Van de Kamp sued three Kern County farmers Monday for allegedly applying a restricted pesticide on watermelons that sickened about 250 California consumers last summer. The civil complaints carry penalties ranging from $45,000 to $162,000, authorities said.

Sometimes we learn most about criminal law and its problems from the cases that do not receive much public attention. Who could have guessed that a seemingly simple North Hollywood case would connect the interests of battered women and animal rights and highlight an astounding discrepancy? In the case, a man stood trial last week on a charge that he knocked his girlfriend into a staircase with a blow to the face and then choked her.

The State Bar has a new publication: "California Certified Legal Specialists 1991." This directory of about 2,100 state lawyers is a resource for those seeking specialized legal assistance in six subject areas: criminal law; family law; immigration and nationality law; probate, estate planning and trust law; taxation law, and worker's compensation law. So far, so good. But what about people who don't know enough about the law to pick the right specialty?

Much has been written contrasting the beating of Rodney King with the beating of truck driver Reginald Denny. King, on parole, was drunk, speeding and resisting arrest; Denny was doing his job. Police are authorized to use force; civilians are not. The cops obtained medical treatment for King; the men who beat Denny left him in the street, possibly to die.

In the first charges stemming from California's restrictive wiretap law, San Diego prosecutors indicted 11 suspected methamphetamine dealers, including a South Bay traffic court referee, and claimed Tuesday to have smashed a "major national drug ring." The ring, prosecutors said, made hundreds of pounds--worth thousands of dollars--of the drug over the past 10 years at East County labs, then shipped it to points east by courier.

Three federal judges in Los Angeles are scheduled to hold a rare joint hearing today to consider defense arguments that the U.S. attorney's office has selectively targeted blacks and Latinos for prosecution under a 1986 law that requires stiff prison terms for dealing drugs near school grounds. U.S. District Judges W. Matthew Byrne Jr., Terry J. Hatter Jr. and Mariana R.

The U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles has challenged a federal judge's decision to expunge a criminal conviction of an Army reservist who said last August that he needed a clean record so he could accompany his unit to the Persian Gulf. In rendering his decision, U.S. District Judge A. Andrew Hauk also raised anew questions about his unpredictable judicial demeanor.

"Where else can you get legal advice for $20? If you go to a lawyer, he'll charge you $150 an hour." That's what one participant said last spring after attending the second annual Citizens Law School, a six-week course sponsored by the Beverly Hills Bar Assn. Actually, there are a few places you can get a better deal, but not many indigent clients can obtain Legal Aid services at no cost, and Telelawyer, a 900 lawyer information line ((900) 446-4529) provides advice for $3 a minute.