Source: https://www.shouselaw.com/motion-for-new-trial.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 23:24:25+00:00

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Like everything else in a criminal justice system, California jury trials are subject to mistake, manipulation, and corruption. Sometimes the judge or jury simply get it wrong.
And because we're a law firm that specializes in criminal defense, we know the most effective arguments to help maximize the chances that your motion is granted.
1. What is a Motion for a New Trial?
Let's take a closer look at these issues to gain a better understanding of the appropriate grounds for raising this type of motion.
The phrase "jury misconduct" can refer to a variety of issues.6 Perhaps the most common in connection with a California motion for a new trial is that the jury received information outside of the "record"...that is, outside of the admitted evidence.
If the answer is yes, you will most likely prevail on the motion. If the answer is no, the court will likely hold that the misconduct was harmless and deny you a new trial.
It is important to note that a motion for a new trial may be granted even if you were only "mentally absent", as long as the condition was not voluntarily induced.
California criminal law gives the judge broad discretion when it comes to determining whether the evidence was sufficient to sustain a guilty verdict.24 If the court believes that the evidence was, in fact, insufficient to prove your guilt, the judge will grant your motion for a new trial...even if the jury has found you guilty.
"Insufficient evidence" presents a unique remedy for a motion for a new trial. If the judge grants this motion, you will not actually receive a new trial, but instead will receive a dismissal of the charges.
This is because once a judge grants a motion for a new trial on this ground, "double jeopardy" prevents the prosecution from retrying the case. If you were entitled to an acquittal...which you were if there was insufficient evidence to support a guilty verdict...the government does not get a "second bite at the apple".
For questions about a California "motion for a new trial", or to discuss your case confidentially with one of our attorneys, do not hesitate to contact us at Shouse Law Group.
Additionally, our Las Vegas Nevada criminal defense attorneys are available to answer any questions relating to law and motion in Nevada's criminal court system. For more information, we invite you to contact our local attorneys at one of our Nevada law offices, located in Reno and Las Vegas.40 For information about motions for a new trial in Nevada, go to our article motions for a new trial in Nevada.
2Our California criminal defense attorneys have local Los Angeles law offices in Beverly Hills, Burbank, Glendale, Lancaster, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Pomona, Torrance, Van Nuys, West Covina, and Whittier. We have additional law offices conveniently located throughout the state in Orange County, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, San Jose, Oakland, the San Francisco Bay area, and several nearby cities. Please contact us at Shouse Law Group with any questions.
7Riverside criminal defense attorney Michael Scafiddi uses his former experience as an Ontario Police Officer to represent clients throughout the Inland Empire including San Bernardino, Riverside, Banning, Fontana, Joshua Tree, Barstow and Victorville.
9See California Penal Code 1181 PC - California motion for a new trial, endnote 6, above.
11People v. Strickland (1974) 11 Cal.3d 946, 955.
12People v. Aragon (1957) 154 Cal.App.2d 646. Prosecutor referred to the defendant failing a lie detector test.
13People v. Williams (1951) 104 Cal.App.2d 323. Prosecutor continuously tried to elicit hearsay and to illegally impeach his own witness.
14People v. Chandler (1957) 152 Cal.App.2d Supp. 916. Prosecutor sought to elicit testimony about unrelated arrest and misdemeanor convictions.
15People v. Stansbury (1993) 4 Cal.4th 1017. Improper for prosecutor to ask jury to view crime from eyes of murder victim, as appeal to sympathy for victim is out of place during an objective determination of guilt.
16People v. Prysock (1982) 127 Cal.App.3d 972, 998.
22People v. Williams (1961) 194 Cal.App.2d 523 (California motion for new trial granted because defendant declared insane during trial).
25People v. Trevino (1985) 39 Cal.3d 667 (overruled on other grounds).
27People v. Turner (1994) 8 Cal.4th 137, 212 (overruled on other grounds).
29People v. Holloway (1990) 50 Cal.3d 1098, 1116 (overruled on other grounds).
31People v. Cornwell (2005) 37 Cal.4th 50 (overruled on other grounds).
32People v. Albarran (2007) 149 Cal.App.4th 214.
33Merrill v. Superior Court (1994) 27 Cal.App.4th 1586.
34People v. DeLouize (2004) 32 Cal.4th 1223.
40Please feel free to contact our Nevada criminal defense attorneys Michael Becker and Neil Shouse for any questions relating to Nevada's criminal court system. Our Nevada law offices are located in Reno and Las Vegas.

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