THE JOURNAL
Justice
Mike Romano: After Years of Litigation, Dave Valencia is Finally Free
Dave Valencia was sentenced to life under the Three Strikes law for a nonviolent crime he committed in 2009, but after 13 years, he finally walked free from Valley State Prison.
Lake County Judge Vacates David Faulkenbery’s Life Sentence
David Faulkenbery is finally free! After being sentenced to life under the Three Strikes law, and serving over 20 years, David walked out of Folsom State prison into the arms of his loving family.
Crime Story LA
“Black Bird” Gets L.A. Premiere and Early Reviews
Black Bird, the Crime Story Media-produced limited series which debuts on Apple TV+ next Friday, July 8 had its world premiere in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Here is an early...
Interview: Eric Siddall, VP of the LA Association of Deputy District Attorneys on George Gascón’s First Year as L.A. D.A.
On today’s podcast we present an exclusive conversation with Eric Siddall vice president of the ADDA the professional association for Deputy District Attorneys of Los Angeles county. Siddall joins...
Los Angeles Rapper Drakeo the Ruler Stabbed and Killed at L.A. Music Festival
Los Angeles rapper Drakeo the Ruler was stabbed and killed last night at the Once Upon a Time Festival in L.A.
Crime Story has published three stories about the legal...
Editors Blog
The Robert Durst Prosecutor Speaks — Audio-Visual Evidence and Jury Selection
On this episode of Jury Duty: The Robert Durst Prosecutor Speaks Los Angeles Deputy DA John Lewin discusses how he used footage from the Jinx in mapping out his...
The Robert Durst Prosecutor Speaks — The Bathroom Audio and the Other Conditional Examinations
On this episode of Jury Duty: The Robert Durst Prosecutor Speaks Los Angeles Deputy DA John Lewin discusses when he became aware of the infamous hot mic bathroom audio...
The Robert Durst Prosecutor Speaks — Telling the Jury a Story
On this episode of Jury Duty: The Robert Durst Prosecutor Speaks Los Angeles Deputy DA John Lewin steps back from the Conditional witness examinations and discusses his storytelling strategies...
Expert Witness
Inside the Robe: A Judge’s Candid Tale of Criminal Justice in America – Part 95
In Part 95, Judge Mader concludes her chronicle of a year in the life of a judge. In her afterword, Judge Mader reflects on the family members who got her to where she is today.
Inside the Robe: A Judge’s Candid Tale of Criminal Justice in America – Part 94
In Part 94, Judge Mader recounts a unique apology from a defendant’s family member to a victim’s family during a sentencing hearing. The Judge also details a catch-22 situation where a defendant is deemed neither competent enough to enter a plea because nor eligible for release without a trial.
Inside the Robe: A Judge’s Candid Tale of Criminal Justice in America – Part 93
In Part 93, Judge Mader explains a tactic she uses both to discipline herself to follow the law and to discourage prosecutors from over-charging. She also reflects on a plea deal she approved that she has come to feel is unfair to the victims in the case.
Justice
Mike Romano: After Years of Litigation, Dave Valencia is Finally Free
Dave Valencia was sentenced to life under the Three Strikes law for a nonviolent crime he committed in 2009, but after 13 years, he finally walked free from Valley State Prison.
Lake County Judge Vacates David Faulkenbery’s Life Sentence
David Faulkenbery is finally free! After being sentenced to life under the Three Strikes law, and serving over 20 years, David walked out of Folsom State prison into the arms of his loving family.
Rodney Riggins Is Freed from a 42-Years-to-Life Sentence
After being sentenced to life under the Three Strikes law for stealing clothes from a shopping mall in San Diego, Rodney Riggins is finally a free man.