California Attorneys for Criminal Justice

10/01/2026

Tomorrow at noon: Trust, But Verify 🔒

AI is making fake emails, payment requests, voices, and videos look and sound more real than ever. But the tactics behind a successful scam haven't changed: fear, urgency, authority, and pressure to act fast.

📅 Friday, October 2 | 12:00 PM Pacific | Live on Zoom
✅ Free for CACJ members, $59 for non-members
✅ Includes Technology MCLE credit
✅ Non-attorney staff attend free with a registered attorney

Join Melissa Hannebrink and John Ellis, Esq. for Part 1 of our cybersecurity series and learn how to spot manipulation, slow down, and verify before you act. They'll also cover scams aimed specifically at attorneys, including messages made to look like they came from clients, courts, colleagues, and banks.
Bring your whole office. Register at cacj.org

09/17/2026

Speaker Spotlight: Michael Donaldson

Michael Donaldson, Partner at Greenberg & Donaldson, LLP, will join Registered Nurse Samantha Helm to present “Suppressing Blood Results for Violating Accepted Medical Practices.”

Learn how medical procedures and accepted standards may affect the admissibility and reliability of blood evidence in DUI cases.

Saturday, September 26, 2026
Hyatt Palm Springs, Palm Springs, California

Register today: https://cacj.org/event/HuttonDUI2026

09/16/2026

Speaker Spotlight: Charlie Unger

Charlie Unger of the Law Offices of Charles L. Unger will present “Winning Blood Test Cases: From Collection Through the Crime Lab” at Richard Hutton’s Rules of the Road XXIX.

Follow the path of blood evidence from the initial collection process through laboratory testing and examine the issues that may affect its reliability.

Saturday, September 26, 2026
Hyatt Palm Springs, Palm Springs, California

Register today: https://cacj.org/event/HuttonDUI2026

09/15/2026

Speaker Spotlight: Cole Casey

Cole Casey, Partner at the Law Offices of Casey & Angelos, will join Lauren Angelos for “Defending Watson Murders and Gross Vehicular Manslaughter Cases” at Richard Hutton’s Rules of the Road XXIX.

Gain valuable insight into the defense strategies and legal challenges involved in these serious and high-stakes cases.

Saturday, September 26, 2026
Hyatt Palm Springs, Palm Springs, California

Register today: https://cacj.org/event/HuttonDUI2026

09/14/2026

Speaker Spotlight: Lauren Angelos

Lauren Angelos, Partner at the Law Offices of Casey & Angelos, will join Cole Casey to present “Defending Watson Murders and Gross Vehicular Manslaughter Cases.”

This session will address the complex legal and strategic issues involved in defending some of the most serious cases arising from alleged impaired driving.

Saturday, September 26, 2026
Hyatt Palm Springs, Palm Springs, California

Register today: https://cacj.org/event/HuttonDUI2026

09/11/2026

California has not carried out an ex*****on in two decades, yet 564 people remain under a sentence of death.

As Governor Newsom prepares to leave office, he faces a consequential decision: Should he commute California’s death sentences to life without parole, or leave the question to the next governor?

This reporting from The Marshall Project and CalMatters examines the legal, political, and human consequences.

More than 560 people still face death sentences in California, despite a longstanding moratorium on ex*****ons.

09/11/2026

Speaker Spotlight: Michael Schwartz

Michael Schwartz of Michael Schwartz Law Firm will present “Winning Breath Test Cases: Challenging the Science Behind the Machine” at Richard Hutton’s Rules of the Road XXIX.

Discover important scientific and legal considerations for evaluating breath test evidence and building stronger challenges in DUI cases.

Saturday, September 26, 2026
Hyatt Palm Springs, Palm Springs, California

Register today: https://cacj.org/event/HuttonDUI2026

09/10/2026

Governor Newsom suspended ex*****ons in California in 2019. Will he take further action on the death penalty before leaving office?

Read the latest from CalMatters, then share your thoughts: what should happen next?

More than 560 people still face death sentences in California, despite a longstanding moratorium on ex*****ons.

09/10/2026

Speaker Spotlight: Samantha Helm

Registered Nurse Samantha Helm will join Michael Donaldson to present “Suppressing Blood Results for Violating Accepted Medical Practices” at Richard Hutton’s Rules of the Road XXIX.

This session will explore how accepted medical practices can become a critical issue when examining and challenging blood evidence in DUI cases.

Saturday, September 26, 2026
Hyatt Palm Springs, Palm Springs, California

Register today: https://cacj.org/event/HuttonDUI2026

09/09/2026

Speaker Spotlight: Al Menaster

Join Al Menaster, Deputy Public Defender with Los Angeles County, for the Annual DUI Case Law and Legislative Update at Richard Hutton’s Rules of the Road XXIX.

Stay informed about the recent cases, legal developments, and legislative changes affecting DUI defense in California.

Saturday, September 26, 2026
Hyatt Palm Springs, Palm Springs, California

Register today: https://cacj.org/event/HuttonDUI2026