Let an SB 1437 Attorney in Costa Mesa CA Make Sure Your Sentence is Just
Activists and many in the legal field have been working tirelessly for years to convince the California legislature to change the unfair rules of the felony murder law. They have finally done so and today we are proud to be an SB 1437 attorney in Costa Mesa CA who can help certain eligible people who have been convicted of felony murder. If you want to know if you or your loved one’s sentence could be reduced, contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 for a free initial consultation.
Consider These 3 Eligibility Requirements
The bad news is that an SB 1437 attorney in Costa Mesa CA can only help certain people with sentence reductions. They must fit into one of these three eligibility categories:
- If the client was convicted under the first-degree felony murder rule then they must not have killed, intended to kill, or acted as a major participant in the felony with reckless indifference to human life.
- If the client was convicted as an accomplish to a “target” crime under the second-degree felony murder they cannot have killed or acted with malice in the killing.
- The client was convicted of second-degree murder.
If one of these three applies then it is time to contact an attorney. In the event you are not sure what theory of murder the case involved, there are several options. A call to the lawyer who handled the case and / or any appeals can likely help, as can an SB 1437 attorney in Costa Mesa CA that specializes in these cases. It is also possible to get ahold of the jury instructions to find out more about the theory of the case.
Discover the Steps to Requesting a Sentencing Adjustment
The good news is that the effects of SB 1437 are retroactive, meaning that they apply both to people who have been sentenced under the felony murder rule and those who will be sentenced in the future. The bad news is that those who are eligible to have their sentence adjusted cannot expect it to happen automatically.
The process involves filling out a petition and submitting declarations re: the conviction. This paperwork must be filled out, copied, and then sent both to either the District Attorney or Attorney General (whichever of the two was in charge of the conviction) and to either a public defender or an SB 1437 attorney in Costa Mesa CA.
Not Sure How to Proceed? Contact an SB 1437 Attorney in Costa Mesa CA
Though the passage of SB 1437 is good news for many people, it is complex legislation, made more complicated by the fact that it is not entirely clear how the courts will interpret portions of the law. For this and other reasons, it is essential to work with an SB 1437 attorney in Costa Mesa CA. Reach out to Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 now for your free initial consultation.
