New Law Would Eliminate Bail

Written on January 22, 2019.

On August 28th of last year, Governor Jerry Brown signed SB10, better known as the bail reform bill, into law. Originally scheduled to go into effect in October 2019, the new law promises to transform conditions of pretrial release and is already being used in test programs in several counties. For example, Napa County has a similar system in place and has reported a lower rate of recidivism. Under current law, those facing misdemeanor charges are usually released on their own recognizance and...

It’s about time

Written on May 24, 2018.

Let’s face it, law and legal stuff can be pretty scary, sometimes. Take the young lady who came into our library. Seems she had been sued for a breach of contract. A while back. Seems she didn’t know about the awesomeness of her local county law library (i.e. the RCLL) so she pulled a response from somewhere off the Internet and filed it. You can imagine her surprise and chagrin when, 30 days later, she was served with a demurrer to her answer. Wait, what?! Can the plaintiff...

Funding for California County Law Libraries

Written on May 3, 2018.

In April 2018, Sandi Levin of the Los Angeles County Law Library testified before the California Senate Budget Subcommittee regarding the funding crisis of county law libraries. The Subcommittee is considering the matter of a one time or consistent additional funding for California county law libraries. Generally, California county law libraries are funded by a small portion of civil filing fees collected by the Courts. Since 2012(ish), due to the increased using of alternative dispute resolution...

Special Orders Don’t Upset Us

Written on February 1, 2018.

A large television screen is mounted behind the front desk of our Indio location displaying information about the services we offer, upcoming events, and a cartoon short featuring a superhero law librarian named Bob. Sitting at the desk one afternoon, I wonder about this idea of librarians as superheroes and it turns out there actually is a long tradition of librarians not only cataloging and filing the world’s information but actively working to preserve it and ensure its distribution to the...

Can I have it back, please?!

Written on January 26, 2018.

February is right around the corner and as Valentine’s Day approaches, many feel stirred to make the ultimate romantic gesture and propose to their loved one. An engagement ring can be a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, and it frees the giver from having to think of another gift so soon after the holidays. These romantic symbols are most often a starting point to a long and happy marriage; but sometimes the stars are crossed and a frequently researched question at the Riverside County Law...

Ready or Not, Here They Come!

Written on January 12, 2018.

If history has taught us anything, a new year always brings with it new laws. 2018 is no exception as is evident by the 900+ new laws becoming effective this year. While there is not enough room to examine each and every new law, following are some of the big ones (or ones we at the RCLL get questions about more often): Assembly Bill (“AB”) 168 which holds that the salary history of job applicants can only be disclosed voluntarily (i.e. you don’t have to tell a perspective...

Everything you need in one place

Written on July 13, 2017.

At the Riverside County Law Library, we try to provide help to every patron who comes through our door. Occasionally, we also receive questions from the public over the phone. These calls often serve as scouting missions that provide us with the opportunity to explain the resources which our library has to offer. I was recently called by a gentleman who had become frustrated in his attempts to print a section of the penal code at home. He complained that he had tried several sites but the printed...

Legislative Summit

Written on October 22, 2015.

On Thursday, October 15, 2015, I attended the 2015 Legislative Summit at the South Coast Winery in Temecula. The event was organized by the Temecula Chamber of Commerce. The speakers were Senator Mike Morrell, Supervisor Kevin Jeffries, Diane Harkey from the State Board of Equalization, Michael Hestrin the Riverside County District Attorney and Anne Mayer from the Riverside County Transportation Commission. The panel of speakers discussed the water crises in California, the rising crime in Riverside...

What A Wonderful World

Written on June 25, 2015.

I see a book of blue, and parts of white, The Condominium Bluebook, an informational delight And I think to myself What A Wonderful World Louis Armstrong had it right. While he may not have been talking about the Riverside County Law Library, we do have a wonderful assortment of tools to help you in your legal research and practice. One such treasure trove is the 2015 Condominium Bluebook, which can be found at all 3 branches of RCLL. Don’t let this title fool you. It is a veritable...

Tag: California