Court of Appeal To Host Program for San Bernardino Students

January 10, 2012

PDF Version

Court of Appeal Hosts Program for San Bernardino County High School Students

WHAT: The Court of Appeal for the Fourth Appellate District, Division Two (Riverside), will host an innovative court-community outreach program called “Outreach Plus” for 350 students at the Redlands High School in Redlands. The purpose of the program is to teach students about the appellate courts and advise them of the importance of pursuing a higher education. Redlands High School is the oldest public high school in the state on its original site, and is rated high in academics. The public is welcome to attend.

WHEN: Thursday, January 19, 2012—9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

WHERE: Redlands High School, 840 E Citrus Avenue, Redlands, California (map)

WHO: Presiding Justice Manuel A. Ramirez and Associate Justices Thomas E. Hollenhorst, Art McKinster, Betty A. Richli, Jeffrey King, Douglas P. Miller, and Carol D. Codrington, will hear oral arguments. After the session, the justices will participate in a question and answer session and then visit classrooms with San Bernardino County Bar Association lawyers. The justices and lawyers will talk to the students about the California appellate and superior courts, legal careers, and the importance of seeking higher education.

CASES TO BE HEARD: Starting at 9:15 a.m., the justices will hear oral arguments in three cases—two pending criminal appeals and one delinquency appeal.

In People v. Escobar the jury convicted the defendant of second degree murder with a firearm for shooting to death the former boyfriend of defendant’s former girlfriend; on appeal he contends that he was provoked and that the jury would have reduced the murder conviction to voluntary manslaughter but for trial court’s incorrect instruction of the jury about provocation.

In People v. Saintis a jury also convicted the defendant of second degree murder for beating and strangling his girlfriend to death during a quarrel, and the defendant also contends the jury would have convicted him of voluntary manslaughter but for his lawyers failure to object to the prosecutor’s misleading argument about the elements of voluntary manslaughter, which the trial court itself also should have corrected.

In People v. A.G., a minor was caught with a knife in his pocket at school. He contends that the knife was discovered by an illegal search that was not justified by a reasonable suspicion or a special need.

PROGRAM DETAILS: Arrangements to hold “Outreach Plus” in Redlands resulted from the collaboration of the Court of Appeal; Jennifer M. Guenther, president of the San Bernardino County Bar Association; Christina Rivera, principal of Redlands High School; and Vice Principals Mike Muñoz and Gayle Dockham. Presiding Justice Ramirez also acknowledges Lynelle K. Hee, Christopher A. Nalls, and Ann Penners Bergen, counsel for the appellants, and William M. Wood, Marissa A. Bejarano, and Donald W. Ostertag, Deputy Attorneys General, for making the drive to Redlands to represent their clients at oral argument and participate in the question-and-answer session.

CONTACT: For more information, please call Paula Garcia, Assistant Clerk/Administrator, Court of Appeal, 951-782-2530.