• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

Free Initial Consultations – Call today (559) 222-5800

dui lawyer fresno

Fresno DUI Attorney & Criminal Defense Lawyer

  • Practice Areas
    • DUI Defense
      • Boating Under the Influence
      • Marijuana DUI Defense
      • Underage DUI Defense
    • Criminal Defense
    • Personal Injury
      • Motor Vehicle Accident
    • Domestic Violence
    • Drug Crimes
    • Expungement
  • About
  • Resources
    • California DUI Laws
    • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Practice Areas
    • DUI Defense
      • Boating Under the Influence
      • Marijuana DUI Defense
      • Underage DUI Defense
    • Criminal Defense
    • Personal Injury
      • Motor Vehicle Accident
    • Domestic Violence
    • Drug Crimes
    • Expungement
  • About
  • Resources
    • California DUI Laws
    • Blog
  • Contact Us

Court Backlog Blamed on Fresno DA’s Office

Home / Blog / Court Backlog Blamed on Fresno DA’s Office

March 25, 2013 //  by Gregory Fox

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Fresno County defense attorneys are blaming the district attorney’s office for a backlog of court cases. They say bad judgment is clogging the process of justice, wasting time and money, and ruining lives.

We’ve talked about the court backlog before. Trials and preliminary hearings are frequently postponed because of a lack of courtrooms. Now, some defense attorneys are telling me it could be easily solved if the DA’s office would do a better job of choosing cases.

Franz Criego lost a lot of cases in his 23 years at the Fresno County public defender’s office, representing accused murderers, molesters, and more. But since moving into private practice and picking up misdemeanor cases, he’s almost undefeated. 20 cases in two months and only one client found guilty.

“He is a great lawyer,” said fellow defense attorney Charles Magill, “But the fact is, he shouldn’t have 20 cases in a row that he’s won. He shouldn’t have won any of them because if they can’t prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, they have no legitimate basis of trying them in the first place.”

Magill’s law firm also got a not guilty verdict in a misdemeanor this week. Frank van Schaik was accused of violating a restraining order — an order that had been dismissed. But even with the acquittal, van Schaik says his life is ruined.

“Money gone, criminal record behind my name,” he said. “I cannot find a job anymore because all the employers nowadays do criminal background checks.”

Magill says the problem is that misdemeanor prosecutors at the district attorney’s office have no discretion.

“They’re told you either have the person plead guilty to what they’re accused of or go to trial,” he said.

Criego tells Action News they’re going to trial on cases that shouldn’t even be in the courts, clogging courtrooms that should be used for more serious cases. For example, he’s preparing to defend a client now who’s charged with fishing with a net.

The district attorney’s office gave this response: “The job of the district attorney’s office, first and foremost, is to protect victims and the public and prosecute criminals.”

Defense attorneys argue prosecutors are casting their own net, and it’s far too wide.

Presiding judge Gary Hoff has told us the backlog hasn’t caused any cases to be dismissed yet. But he is sending some criminal cases over to the civil court to be tried because civil cases can be postponed, while some criminal cases can’t.

—

Full Article

Category: Blog

Previous Post: « Identity Theft and Tax Refund Scams
Next Post: Fresno Defense Attorneys: DA’s Clogging Courts »

Primary Sidebar

Search posts

Request your free initial consultation

If you have any questions or would like to schedule your free initial consultation please call (559) 222-5800 or fill out this form and we will contact you as soon as possible.











    Related Posts

    Fresno driver shouldn’t be ticketed for using map app, court rules, Fresno Defense Attorneys: DA’s Clogging Courts, Fresno dad blamed for child’s death jailed again, Federal Court Rules No Warrant is Needed to Obtain Cell Phone Records
    This website provides general information only. It should not be relied upon as legal advice. The law is constantly changing and differs from location to location. Applicability of the law is dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each case. You should consult an attorney about your particular situation. Transmission of this information is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute an attorney–client relationship between the sender and receiver. Internet subscribers and online readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.

    If you have any questions, or would like to schedule your free initial consultation, please contact us today at (559) 222-5800. Hablamos español.

    Footer

    About

    Gregory W. Fox provides DUI, criminal defense, and personal injury representation throughout Fresno and the greater Central Valley of California including Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Stanislaus, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties.

    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter

    Contact Us

    The Law Office of Gregory W. Fox
    191 West Shaw Avenue, Suite 208
    Fresno, California 93704

    Phone: (559) 222-5800

    FAX: (559) 222-5801

    Hours:

    1. Monday–Thursday 8AM–5PM
    2. Friday 8AM–12PM
    3. Saturday–Sunday 9AM–4PM

    Get Directions

    Practice Areas

    • DUI Defense
    • Criminal Defense
    • Drug Crimes
    • Domestic Violence
    • Expungement
    • Personal Injury

    Site Footer

    • Top Criminal Defense Attorney in Fresno
    • Lawyer Gregory Fox | Featured Attorney Criminal Defense

    • Copyright © 2023
    • The Law Office of Gregory W. Fox
    • Privacy Policy